Department for Transport

Railways: Strikes

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of Exchequer on potential options for resolving the pay element of the rail industrial dispute.

Huw Merriman: Ministers and officials from the Department and HM Treasury engage in regular discussion on the operation of the railways, including industrial relations

Railways: Strikes

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will involve ACAS in talks to agree terms for negotiations with the rail unions in the context of the industrial action.

Huw Merriman: The Government is not a party to these discussions. The parties to these disputes, the trade unions and the employers, are able to decide on how best to resolve the disputes. It would be for them to consider if they wish to consult with ACAS.

Railways: Newcastle upon Tyne

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking with FirstGroup to address disruption to TransPennine routes from Newcastle Central Station.

Huw Merriman: The Department, which manages the TPE contract in partnership with Transport for the North, has been in regular dialogue with the operator to manage the provision of services in the face of prolonged national and local industrial action and a backlog of training caused by Covid-19 lockdowns. The actions that have been agreed and continue to be discussed include: Ongoing review of timetables to establish a stable and reliable base in the short term;Introduction of additional drivers and conductors (currently being trained); andWidespread advertising to recruit more drivers to reduce TPE’s reliance on rest day working and overtime.

Train Operating Companies: Investment Income

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a breakdown of how many dividend payments by rail companies have been authorised by his Department in each year since 2019; and the value of those dividends.

Huw Merriman: The Department does not publish a list of approved dividend payments or applications under consideration as it considers that publication of this information would prejudice commercial interests.

West Coast Main Line: Standards

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what target for reducing cancellations has his Department set for Avanti West Coast as part of the deal for keeping that rail contract.

Huw Merriman: The Department has been clear that the service for passengers on the West Coast is not good enough. Ministers and officials meet Avanti and First Trenitalia senior management regularly to review Avanti’s progress against its service restoration plan, holding them accountable for matters within their control. The recent short-term contract extension allows Avanti an opportunity to deliver a reliable timetable for passengers. The Department will consider its performance, including the number of cancelations attributable to Avanti, before making any long-term decision on the operation of the route.

Bus Services: Compensation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason bus companies are not obliged to give compensation for delayed and cancelled services in the same way as rail companies.

Mr Richard Holden: The National Bus Strategy published in March last year stated that Local Transport Authorities must include a passengers’ charter giving bus users rights to certain standards of service in their Bus Service Improvement Plans. Delays to bus services are sometimes outside of the control of the bus operator for reasons such as traffic congestion, but passengers have a right to expect a certain level of service. The Strategy was clear that there should be mechanisms for passenger redress at a local level and means to ensure that service standards are met. It also set out that there will be consultation on the appropriate standards and mechanisms for enforcement, which will be taken forward in due course.

Bus Services

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the length of funding application windows for Bus companies; and what assessment he has made of the impact of that length on the ability of bus companies to carry out full and proper consultations with residents about the viability of bus routes.

Mr Richard Holden: We regularly discuss bus funding with HMT and factor in the deadlines set by the Office of Traffic Commissioner for service registration when making decisions relating to funding for bus services. The statutory service registration period is set to ensure that proper consultation on bus routes is able to take place with residents and local authorities. The Department also engages with key industry representatives in the bus sector regularly to ensure their views are taken into consideration when taking bus funding decisions.

TransPennine Express: Standards

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to DfT payments to passenger rail operators under emergency agreements and National Rail contracts released on 15 December, for what reason there are no performance scores and fees for TransPennine Express after September 2020..

Huw Merriman: TransPennine Express moved to a National Rail Contract (NRC) from May 2021 and will have an annual NRC evaluation for the period May 2021 to March 2022. The Performance Based Fee Assessment Period for 2021/22 ended in March 2022 and scores were evaluated this summer. The intention is to publish these scores early next year.

Cycling and Walking: Finance

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's funding plans are for walking and cycling schemes in the next three years.

Jesse Norman: The second statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in July of this year, reiterated the Government’s commitment to this important agenda and set out the funding that was projected to be spent on it from 2020/21 to 2024/25 from a wide range of funding streams. The Autumn Statement of 17 November confirmed the Department for Transport’s overall funding levels for 2023-24 and 2024-25. The Department is currently considering the budget for active travel as part of its examination of all future spending plans following that Statement.

Cycling and Walking: Finance

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what date he will launch Active Travel Fund 4.

Jesse Norman: The Department plans to launch Active Travel Fund 4 once future budgets are confirmed through the Departmental business planning process.

Train Operating Companies: Strikes

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the Government has compensated the train operators for lost revenue from strike action since 1 January 2022; and what estimate he has made of how much the Government will compensate the train operator for lost revenue on the announced strike dates of (a) 13-14 December 2022, (b) 16-17 December 2022, (c) 24-27 December 2022, (d) 3-4 January 2023 and (e) 6-7 January 2023.

Huw Merriman: No compensation has been paid by the Department to train operators to cover lost revenue due to strike action since 1 January 2022, and none will be for the upcoming strike action. Under the terms of the operator agreements put in place since the onset of COVID, the Government takes revenue risk not operators and hence operators are not financially affected by any fluctuations in revenue.

West Coast Main Line: Standards

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any performance-related fees will be paid to Avanti West Coast for the six month period from April 2022.

Huw Merriman: Under both the previous and current operator contracts the operator receives a fixed fee and can earn a performance-based fee. Performance is independently evaluated against set criteria and considers all elements within the operator's control. The Performance Based Fee for the period covering 1 April 2022 to 16 October 2022 is currently under review. At this stage of the process, it would be improper to comment on the outcome of that independent evaluation.

East Coast Main Line: Fares

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has for extending the Single Leg Pricing fares trial to all other East Coast Main Line Long Distance High Speed rail journeys.

Huw Merriman: The Department has conducted a review of the Single Leg Pricing fares trial on LNER. The report is being finalised and we intend to publish the findings in due course. We will then consider the next steps as part of our commitments to reform fares.

East Coast Main Line: Timetables

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with officials on the implementation of the East Coast Main Line timetable change.

Huw Merriman: My two predecessors had various discussions with officials on the implementation of the ECML timetable change, following the timetable consultation in 2021. To ensure stakeholder needs are fully met and performance on the network is fully understood prior to operation, introduction is targeted for 2023 or later.

East Coast Main Line: Timetables

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what (a) month and (b) year his Department planned to deliver the East Coast Main Line timetable change when funding was announced in July 2018 for the East Coast Upgrade engineering works.

Huw Merriman: In July 2018 the ECML timetable change related to the ECML Upgrade was to be delivered in December 2020.

East Coast Main Line: Rolling Stock

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of his Department’s planned size for the East Coast Main Line Long Distance High Speed rail fleet operating to and from (a) London King’s Cross, (b) Leeds and (c) Edinburgh in each of the five years from 2023.

Huw Merriman: Each train operator contracted by the Department for Transport is required to submit an Annual Business Plan. Draft fleet plans for the period from 2023 to 2028 have just been received from train operators and are being reviewed. The information in these plans is commercially confidential.

Pokesdown Station

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated for improvements to Pokesdown station in Bournemouth East constituency.

Huw Merriman: There is a total of £5.7 million available to complete the improvements project at Pokesdown for Boscombe station which is provided by a combination of funding from the Department, Network Rail and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. It should also be made clear that Network Rail funding is for renewals such as the bridge and canopy painting/repairs, not specifically the lifts or other station improvements.

Pokesdown Station

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to agree to the business case to upgrade Pokesdown station in Bournemouth East constituency.

Huw Merriman: My Officials have approved the plans for improvements at Pokesdown for Boscombe station and tenders to carry out the detailed design work on the lifts are in the process of being reviewed by Network Rail. There will be a further tendering exercise following on from this to secure an accurate cost for construction. Stakeholders have been kept informed of progress via a public meeting in September and will be kept regularly updated as the scheme progresses.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

EU Law: Northern Ireland

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the capacity of Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Assembly to update or replace EU Retained Law by December 2023.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Departments will analyse their retained EU law carefully to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law, as well as retained EU law that should be repealed, or amended. The Government recognises the unique challenges Northern Ireland departments are facing in delivering plans for REUL reforms in the continued absence of a functioning Executive and Assembly. The Brexit Opportunities Unit which works closely with Northern Ireland Office, has established regular intergovernmental meetings intended to support devolved counterparts with identification of which REUL is devolved or reserved, as part of the REUL Reform Programme.

EU Law: Northern Ireland

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with officials from Northern Ireland Departments on the replacement of EU retained law.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government remains committed to proactively engaging with devolved governments at official and Ministerial level on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill and the REUL reform programme . To date, there have been regular official level discussions with the devolved governments, including the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and we will continue to engage with the devolved governments.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Correspondence

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he will respond to the letter from the Federation of Small Business dated 8 November 2022.

Kevin Hollinrake: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the Federation of Small Business on 19th December.

Electricity: Iron and Steel

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the German government's decision to guarantee wholesale electricity prices at €130/MWh for steel producers for all of 2023; and if he will make it his policy to implement a similar measure for the sector in the UK.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: HM Treasury is currently conducting a review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and evidence from the steel sector is included in that. As part of that review, we are looking at approaches taken in other countries. However, the Government cannot confirm what further support will be available after 31st March 2023 until the end of the review, which will report by the end of the year.

Fireworks

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the impact of fireworks on (a) animals and (b) vulnerable people; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (i) prohibiting the sale of fireworks except between 29 October and 5 November, (iii) restricting the days when they can be used, (iv) introducing fireworks control zones, (v) legislating to make all fireworks silent and (vi) reducing the maximum permitted noise level of fireworks for public sale from 120dB to 90dB.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Government endorses the considerate use of fireworks and action taken to reduce the risks and disturbances to individuals, animals and property. The majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner and there are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are misused. The Department has no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) prohibiting the sale of fireworks except between the 29th October and 5th November and restricting the days when they can be used, (b) introducing fireworks control zones, (c) legislating to make all fireworks silent and (d) reducing the maximum permitted noise level of fireworks for public sale from 120dB to 90dB but the Government continues to monitor the situation and engage with stakeholders to listen to and understand their views.

Director of Labour Market Enforcement

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish the annual report of Labour Market Enforcement for 2020 to 2021.

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to respond to (a) Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2020 to 2021 and (b) Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2021 to 2022.

Kevin Hollinrake: I am grateful to the Director of Labour Market Enforcement for their annual strategy. The Government did not respond to the 2020/21 and 2021/22 strategies. This is because Government agreed the recommendations ahead of publication. This was set out in a written ministerial statement in December 2021. The Home Office and BEIS have recently reviewed the 2022/23 Labour Enforcement Strategy and it will be published in the new year.

EU Law: Northern Ireland Protocol

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the replacement of retained EU law with Article 2 of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government remains committed to proactively engaging with devolved governments at official and Ministerial level on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill and the REUL reform programme . To date, there have been regular official level discussions with the devolved governments, including the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and we will continue to engage with the devolved governments

3D Printing: Regulation

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether legislation regulates the (a) manufacture, (b) sale and (c) possession of 3D printing technology.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: In placing a 3D printer on the market the manufacturer will need to comply with the relevant product safety legislation such as the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and other relevant regulations that may apply to the 3D printer product. There are currently no additional requirements in product safety legislation specifically concerning the possession of 3D manufacturing technology by consumers.

Industry: Stockport

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which industry in Stockport constituency receives the most Government funding as of 7 December 2022.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: We do not collect data on industrial investment at constituency level. Levelling Up will be achieved through empowering our regions by devolving money, resources, and control away from Westminster. As a part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Stockport will benefit from access to £83.9m through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £100m through the Innovation Accelerators. Stockport has also been awarded grants of more than £28m through the Towns Fund and Future High Streets Fund to support private sector investment. The Greater Manchester city region, meanwhile, has received a total of over £115m for the academic year 2022/23 in Quality-related research (QR) funding and Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) delivered through Research England.

Research: Stockport

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding his Department provided for research and development in Stockport constituency in the 2022-23 financial year.

George Freeman: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) do not yet have full data for competitive grants in the current financial year 2022/23. The Greater Manchester South-East sub-region (which is composed of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Stockport and Tameside) received £1,626,895 in publicly funded R&D from UKRI in the financial year 2020-21 (latest data available). The North-West region of England received £539,953,563 of public R&D funded by UKRI in the financial year 2020-21 (latest data available).

Business: Stockport

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses are owned by black and ethnic minority people in Stockport constituency.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Government does not hold regional information on the proportion of BME-owned businesses in Stockport. Government is aware of the challenges faced by ethnic minority businesses and is taking action to support them. Ministers regularly engage with ethnic minority business leaders and networks to better understand the issues facing them. We are working with stakeholders to agree interventions to improve access to finance. Since its launch (2012) the Start Up Loans programme has issued around 20% of its loans to Black, Asian, and Ethnic-minority business worth £187,043,936. We are also delivering actions set out in the Inclusive Britain report (2022), which aim to support ethnic minority entrepreneurs.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to Answer 6 December 2022 to Question 97528 on Research: Finance and with reference to the Levelling Up White Paper, page 6 stating that 40 per cent increase in R&amp;D pledged for outside of the Greater South East, which R&amp;D spending assessment methodology will this use.

George Freeman: The Government has pledged to increase domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South East by at least 40% by 2030. This increase in R&D spending will be measured by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Government Research and Development (GovERD) survey of government departments. The ONS, which is an independent body, is currently in the process of improving the GovERD survey to ensure data is collected on a regional level, with estimates for public R&D spend for each of the 12 nations and regions of the UK. ONS will publish baseline estimates from this work detailing public funded R&D expenditure at International Territorial Level 1 in January 2023.

Universities: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the impact of the freezing of tuition fees for domestic students on the funding available from universities for scientific research.

George Freeman: University research is funded by government via a variety of funding sources. Universities also cross subsidise research activity, including from international student fee income. Government monitors the impact of financial pressures on university research. Universities in England receive Quality Related Research Funding which underpins research and which increased by 10.4% to £1,974 million in 2022-23 from 2021-22.Government has frozen maximum tuition fees for seven years up to and including the 2024/25 academic year. As well as reducing debt levels for students, the fee freeze will help to ensure that our higher education system remains sustainable while also promoting greater efficiency amongst providers.

Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, what plans he has to (a) retain, (b) revoke or (c) replace the Artist’s Resale Right Regulations 2006.

George Freeman: The Government is reviewing all REUL, including the Artist Resale Right Regulations, to decide whether to repeal, replace or preserve it and will communicate more in due course.

Measurement

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he expects to publish the UK Measurement Strategy.

George Freeman: I am pleased to say that the UK Measurement Strategy was published on 12th December. The strategy describes how the UK will capitalise on its world-leading National Measurement System from during the 2020s and beyond.

Solar Power: Space

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential ecological impacts of the Space Based Solar Power Innovation Competition.

George Freeman: Before launching the space-based solar power innovation competition, the Government funded the Frazer-Nash consultancy to produce an independent report looking at the feasibility of the technology, including the potential environmental and safety impacts. The report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/space-based-solar-power-de-risking-the-pathway-to-net-zero. The main ecological impacts identified were related to the large potential size of the ground receiving station and the innovation competition is looking at developing concepts that will minimise these issues.

Energy Bill Relief Scheme

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring energy companies to pay the rest of the amount due under the Energy Bills Support Scheme in cash value rather than via credits on people's electricity accounts in cases where the value of a customer’s direct debit is less than the value of the EBSS payment.

Graham Stuart: Energy suppliers are delivering the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) to households in Great Britain with a domestic electricity contract in six monthly instalments to help reduce bills over the winter period. If a customer does build up a surplus in their account, they can contact their supplier to request a refund of that credit. Delivering EBSS is a complex and unique task which is delivering help to millions of households each month and the Government does not plan to amend the agreed process.

Job Creation: Kingston upon Hull North

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is taking steps to increase the number of green jobs in Kingston upon Hull North constituency.

Graham Stuart: The Government does not collect data with the level of granularity required to discuss green employment figures for Kingston upon Hull North specifically. BEIS is working with DfE and local partners to ensure green skills are considered through Local Skills Improvement Plans. The Secretary of State for Education may only approve a Plan if satisfied that net zero targets, adaptation to climate change, and other environmental goals have been considered. Latest official statistics show there are already around 430,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country, and the Government is working with the Green Jobs Delivery Group to explore how central government, local government and businesses can further support local areas to deliver a successful net zero labour market transition.

Energy Bills Rebate: Meters

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the cold weather alert issued by UK Health Security Agency on 5 December 2022, whether his Department plans to issue advice to energy suppliers regarding payment of energy bills support scheme vouchers.

Graham Stuart: On 4 December, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all energy suppliers with customers on traditional prepayment meters, reiterating the importance of ensuring these customers receive their vouchers, have clear information about how to redeem them, and receive prompt service and accurate information from supplier call centres. I met CEOs of suppliers on 7 December to press for significant improvements in their service to these customers. The requirements the Government places on suppliers are clear that they need to make every effort to reach all their customers and ensure a quality service.

Green Deal Scheme: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many projects have been completed in Wirral South through the Green Deal as of 24 November 2022.

Graham Stuart: BEIS estimates that in Wirral South constituency, six Green Deal projects are live, meaning all measures have been installed, but no projects have been completed, meaning that not all measures have been paid off. Data covers the period from May 2013 to October 2022.

Energy Company Obligation: Wales

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much of the additional funding allocated to the Eco+ scheme announced on 28 November will be allocated to Wales.

Graham Stuart: The ECO+ scheme places legal obligations on the larger energy suppliers to deliver energy bill savings to consumers through the installation of energy efficiency measures. It will be worth an extra £1 billion in addition to the current ECO4 scheme. This £1 billon will be used to set mandatory targets for obligated suppliers, which will apply across Great Britain. There are no restrictions on the number of eligible homes that can receive support in Wales within the £1bn funding envelope.

Energy Bills Rebate: Meters

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed postal strikes on the delivery of Energy Bill Support Scheme vouchers for households with pre-payment meters.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to support households on pre-payment meters who have not received their Energy Bill Support Scheme vouchers.

Graham Stuart: Suppliers must ensure that vouchers for traditional pre-payment meter customers reach recipients by the 11th working day of the month. Suppliers are working with the Post Office and PayPoint, who are the two voucher providers, to minimise any disruption of the postal strikes and bringing from voucher production where possible.

Palliative Care: Energy

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that households with children who need palliative care and who use pre-payment meters can access a secure and affordable supply of energy.

Graham Stuart: The Government’s Energy Price Guarantee will bring a typical household bill down to the equivalent of around £2500 per year from 1 October 2022 to end of March 2023 (with equivalent support in NI). From April 2023, the Energy Price Guarantee will be adjusted to cap typical household bills at £3,000 until the end of March 2024. Additionally, the Energy Bills Support Scheme will provide electricity customers in Great Britain with £400 off their bills from October 2022. Ofgem Standard Licence Conditions require suppliers to ensure that prepayment meters are only installed where it is ‘safe and reasonably practicable’ - including consideration of whether a consumer’s vulnerability makes a prepayment meter a poor choice, for example where medical equipment is required.

Renewable Energy: Job Creation

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to taxation for renewable energy companies will have on the creation of new Green jobs as part of (a) The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and (b) the Net Zero Strategy.

Graham Stuart: The economic and fiscal impact of changes in tax policy are factored into the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasts. Further detail is available in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook which is published at fiscal events. The Electricity Generator Levy is a temporary tax, on extraordinary returns being realised from certain electricity generators because of high gas prices, driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Government expects to see the continued growth of the UK renewable energy industry, bringing with it jobs and economic growth. The Ten Point Plan, Net Zero Strategy and British Energy Security Strategy will support up to 480,000 jobs.

Energy Charter Treaty

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of investor-state dispute settlement provisions in the Energy Charter Treaty on delivering climate action.

Graham Stuart: The United Kingdom has investment agreements with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions with over 90 trading partners, including within the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). There has never been a successful ISDS claim brought against the United Kingdom. Negotiations have recently been completed to modernise the investment protection and dispute settlement provisions in the ECT. This modernisation seeks to provide greater clarity on the standards of protection afforded to investors and reduce the scope for claims which lack legal merit. It also extends the scope to protection of green technologies required for the global energy transition and allows Contracting Parties to phase-out their investment protection for fossil fuels in line with their decarbonisation targets.

Northern Ireland Office

Belfast Agreement

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether a budget has been identified for actions to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement.

Mr Steve Baker: The Government is steadfastly committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions, and to ensuring that the 25th anniversary of that Agreement is marked appropriately. In reflection of this commitment, I can confirm that budgetary arrangements for Government activity to mark the 25th anniversary have been identified. The Government intends to announce more details of that activity in the coming months.

Irish Language: Finance

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding his Department has provided to An Ciste Infheistiochta Gaeilge since 2000.

Mr Steve Baker: The Irish Language Investment Fund, An Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge, was established by a grant-in-aid of £8 million from the Government in 2010 in connection to the Hillsborough Castle Talks. On 25 May, the Government announced the provision of an additional £4 million in capital money to the Fund as part of the commitments on Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances that were agreed in New Decade, New Approach.

Irish Language: Finance

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether equality screening assessment was undertaken by his Department of An Ciste Infheistiochta Gaeilge prior to providing £4 million of funding to that organisation.

Mr Steve Baker: The £4 million in capital money for the Irish Language Investment, An Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge, forms part of the package of New Decade, New Approach funding commitments on Northern Ireland’s Unique Circumstances, which together seek to deliver for all parts of the community. Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a statutory duty on public authorities to undertake equality screening assessments when carrying out functions relating to Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Office is not responsible for the delivery of this funding and is not carrying out functions in relation to it, and is therefore not responsible for completing an equality screening assessment. The Northern Ireland Office will continue to meet its legal duties in relation to its full set of New Decade, New Approach funding commitments.

Ulster Scots Language: Finance

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if the Government will take steps to provide funding to help increase the level of understanding of Ulster-Scots language.

Mr Steve Baker: The Government firmly believes that Northern Ireland’s tapestry of identities and cultures is a strength of the Union, and is proud of its strong track record of delivering for the Ulster Scots. The Government has already met its specific funding commitments to support Ulster Scots broadcasting set out in New Decade, New Approach, which was referred to in my answer of 21 November, UIN 85057. In addition to this New Decade, New Approach funding and the recognition of the Ulster Scots as a National Minority, the Government has delivered the Identity & Language (NI) Act which will establish a specific Commissioner for the benefit of the Ulster Scots. We also secured agreement for the BBC Framework Agreement to include a specific clause that provides a clear commitment to BBC output in the Ulster Scots language. The Government will continue this important work to support linguistic diversity across the UK.

Sinn Fein: Members

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to remove the payment of allowances to hon. Members representing Sinn Fein in the context of those Members not taking their seats.

Mr Steve Baker: The Government has previously set out its position that all Members of Parliament should play a full part in the business of the House of Commons.However, the level of expenses received by Members of this House is a matter for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and not for the Government.

Politics and Government: Northern Ireland

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the New Decade, New Approach deal, published on 8 January 2022, what recent progress his Department has made on attracting a portfolio of national and international events to Northern Ireland.

Mr Steve Baker: It is important that Northern Ireland continues to play a role on both the domestic and international stage, as part of our commitment under the New Decade, New Approach Agreement. We are in regular contact with colleagues in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport around the bid to host Euro 2028. I am pleased that Casement Park was part of the preliminary bid announced last month. If the bid is successful this will provide a welcome opportunity to help drive economic growth in local communities in Northern Ireland. I am also pleased that Belfast is the host city for Cyber UK in April 2023, which is the UK’s flagship cyber security event. This will provide an excellent opportunity for Northern Ireland to showcase its growing cyber industry and continue to place the region as a hub for cyber security. This will also further support our commitment in New Decade, New Approach to achieve 5,000 cyber security professionals working in Northern Ireland by 2030. In the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement, it was also announced that £2 million would be provided for the Department for International Trade to work with local partners to host a trade and investment event in Northern Ireland in 2023. This will demonstrate Northern Ireland as an attractive and vibrant place to do business and help drive new mobile investment into its economy. I look forward to both attending and supporting events promoting Northern Ireland over the coming months.

Department of Health and Social Care

Sodium Valproate: Prescriptions

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the data available on patients who have been prescribed sodium valproate,; and if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of a register of patients who have been prescribed medicines with a known and significant risk.

Maria Caulfield: The Medicines and Pregnancy Registry uses National Health Service dispensing data from community pharmacies in England and NHS maternity services to identify female patients who have received anti-epileptic medication, including sodium valproate and those who have received a prescription in a month that they were pregnant. While this dispensing data accurately reflects the medicines received, it relates to patients in England and may not include patients prescribed sodium valproate in hospitals or private healthcare or those who do not present to NHS maternity services.All medicines may potentially cause side effects and some of these side effects could be classified as significant risks when used as prescribed, in specific patient populations or in certain circumstances such as during pregnancy. While registries can be helpful when investigating or monitoring specific aspects of prescribed medicines, the integration of records within existing healthcare systems may be more effective at monitoring patient outcomes.

General Practitioners: Surveys

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2022 to Question 104474 on Health Services: Travellers, whether his Department is taking steps to help improve engagement with the GP Patient Survey for people from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller backgrounds.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Surveys

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2022 to Question 104474 on Health Services: Travellers, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the GP patient survey is accessible to people with low levels of (a) literacy and (b) digital illiteracy.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Surveys

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2022 to Question 104474 on Health Services: Travellers, if he will make a comparative assessment of the level of engagement with the GP Patient Survey by (a) Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller people and (b) the overall population in the latest period for which data is available.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Autism and Learning Disability

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the new clinical standards to improve access to dental care for children and young people with a (a) learning disability and (b) autism will be published.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ophthalmic Services: Special Educational Needs

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what visits have been made by NHS England officials to the NHS Special Schools Eye Care Service as part of their evaluations of that service.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Barking and Dagenham

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding the NHS allocated to the following General Practice Surgeries, (a) Abbey Medical Centre, (b) Aurora Medcare, (c) Barking Medical Group Practice, (d) Dr R Chibber's Practice, (e) Faircross Health Centre, (f) Five Elms Medical Practice, (g) Gables Surgery, (h) Hedgemans Surgery, (i) Highgrove Surgery, (j) John Smith Medical Centre, (k) Julia Engwell Health Centre, (l) Ripple Road Medical Centre, (m) Shifa Medical Practice, (n) St Albans Surgery, (o) The White House, (p) Urswick Medical Centre, and (q) Victoria Medical Centre in (i) 2018-29, (ii) 2019-20, (iii) 2020-21.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Barking and Dagenham

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the NHS spent on GP services in Barking and Dagenham in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-2021.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to collect data on the availability of hormonal replacement therapy products (a) with and (b) without serious shortage protocols.

Maria Caulfield: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Immunosuppression

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 97699 on Coronavirus: Immunosuppression, what parameters his Department is considering for the antibody testing study; what assessments he has made of the consequences for his policies of the need for immunosuppressed patients to be offered antibody testing; and how his Department plans to communicate the results and conclusions of the study.

Will Quince: The Department is seeking advice from independent clinical experts, who will design the COVID-19 antibody testing study for vulnerable immunosuppressed groups. The results from previous studies will inform the Principle Investigators’ trial design and selection of participants. The proposal will be reviewed by an independent expert committee as part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research funding decision process. The Department will engage with patient groups through regular stakeholder communications, which initially would focus on the outcome of a trial funding decision. The development of future guidance on antibody testing for vulnerable groups would be dependent on trial results.

Royal College of Nursing

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings were held between Ministers in his department and the Royal College of Nursing between June 2022 and November 2022; and on which dates were they held.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Protective Clothing

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Minister of State for Social Care's Answer to the Question from the hon. Member for South Shields at Health and Social Care questions on 6 December 2022, Official Report, column 203, when the updated guidance for the social care sector on the use of face masks will be published.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's policy is on the sharing of personal health data with organisations outside the NHS (a) with and (b) without a person's permission.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Waiting Lists

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the backlog in maintenance issues within the NHS on the elective recovery plan.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support integrated care boards will receive from (a) NHSE and (b) his Department for taking responsibility for NHS dentistry.

Helen Whately: NHS England has published a framework on its approach to assure that commissioning functions are carried out safely and effectively by integrated care boards (ICBs) and is supporting ICBs during the transition period for the delegation of these functions. NHS England undertakes an assessment process to ensure that ICBs are equipped to assume commissioning responsibility for delegated functions.

Health Services: Females

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the implementation of the pelvic floor registry as referenced in the Women’s Health Strategy.

Maria Caulfield: The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report highlighted the need for better data collection on pelvic mesh. NHS Digital has developed a Pelvic Floor Registry to monitor and improve patient safety.On 12 December we published an update report on Government implementation of the accepted recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report, which provides an update on work on pelvic mesh including the pelvic floor registry, available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-medicines-and-medical-devices-safety-review-update-report-on-government-implementation/independent-medicines-and-medical-devices-safety-review-update-report-on-government-implementation

Community Diagnostic Centres

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has been made of the potential effectiveness of the 91 community diagnostic centres on improving (a) capacity in the diagnostic service and (b) patient outcomes.

Will Quince: The Department and NHS England aim to increase diagnostic activity to 120% of pre-pandemic levels by March 2025. The 2021 Spending Review provided £2.3 billion to transform diagnostic services, with the majority of this funding being used to increase the number of community diagnostic centres (CDCs) to 160 by March 2025. The Department supports NHS England to monitor CDCs’ delivery against planned activity on a weekly basis. As of November 2022, 91 CDCs have delivered more than 2.5 million additional diagnostic tests. The planned expansion of up to 160 CDCs will deliver approximately 17 million tests by March 2025 and increase capacity for a further nine million.  Increased capacity for diagnostic tests at CDCs will enable earlier treatment for patients and improve outcomes. The model of care delivered by CDCs also promotes convenience for patients by co-ordinating all necessary diagnostic tests and wherever possible, delivering these procedures in a single visit.

Menopause

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education on the inclusion of menopause in RSHE curriculums in schools since the publication of the Women’s Health Strategy for England in August 2022.

Maria Caulfield: Officials engage with the Department for Education on a range of issues, including the Women’s Health Strategy. The Government’s introduction of compulsory Relationships, Sex and Health Education in all schools in 2020 aims to increase knowledge of women’s health, including menopause.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason his Department paid a higher price for the Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine for the booster campaign in winter 2021 than in 2020.

Maria Caulfield: We are unable to provide the information requested as it is commercially sensitive.

Pharmacy

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many community pharmacies were operating in 2022; and how many and what proportion of those pharmacies (a) were established (i) before and (ii) after 1 January 2022, (b) are (i) full-time and (ii) part time, (c) (i) have and (ii) have not amended their opening hours and (d) are (i) open and (ii) closed as of 1 December 2022.

Neil O'Brien: On 30 November 2022, there were 11,059 community pharmacies operating. Between 1 January 2022 and 30 November 2022, 247 pharmacies opened and 336 closed. There are no full time or part time community pharmacies. Pharmacies are required to open for either a minimum of 40 or 100 core hours. On 30 November 2022, 1,022 pharmacies contracted to open for 100 hours a week and 10,037 for 40 hours a week. In addition to the core hours, pharmacies can open for any number of supplementary hours, which can be changed by notifying NHS England.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Gareth Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the rates of covid-19 (a) vaccination and (b) booster uptake are for people in all age groups as of 9 December 2022.

Maria Caulfield: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes weekly data for COVID-19 vaccine uptake in England by age and gender. A table showing provisional data on the cumulative number of people vaccinated with any dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the last three months, three to to six months and vaccinated more than six months ago as of 15 December is attached.The information on booster doses is not held in the format requested. However, the following table shows the provisional cumulative number of people vaccinated by age group with a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in England from 1 September 2022 to 15 December 2022. Data on the autumn booster programme is reported for those aged 50 years old and over, as those aged under 50 years old are only eligible if in a clinical risk group. People in the National Immunisation Management Service cohort who are living and resident in EnglandVaccinated with an autumn booster since 1 September 2022Percentage vaccine uptake %Over 80 years old2,980,9192,421,16781.275 years old to under 80 years old2,414,2181,968,56481.570 years old to under 75 years old2,736,0732,142,26778.365 years old to under 70 years old3,030,8852,155,91271.160 years old to under 65 years old3,681,8232,201,80359.855 years old to under 60 years old4,197,8192,112,12750.350 years old to under 55 years old4,253,3491,725,33340.6Sources:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2022-to-2023-seasonhttps://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations

Mental Health Services: Females

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide an update on the work of the women’s mental health task force.

Maria Caulfield: Since the publication of the women’s mental health taskforce’s final report in December 2018, the NHS Long Term Plan has committed to develop new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care by 2023/24 to support adults with moderate to severe mental illnesses. This will include personalised gender and trauma-informed care.

Bipolar Disorder

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what specialist services are available for people with Bipolar disorder.

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the health spend is on services and treatments for people with bipolar disorder.

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to diagnosis people with bipolar disorder.

Maria Caulfield: The NHS Long Term Plan commits to investing approximately £1 billion by 2023/24 to increase access to high quality care in the community for people with severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder. Through the new models of care provided by integrated care systems, services will be based on the needs of individuals, rather than solely on diagnoses. This follows feedback received from those with severe mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, during the development of the community mental health framework. Information on National Health Service expenditure on services and treatments specifically for people with bipolar disorder is not held in the format requested.

Health: Housing

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of poor housing on health; and what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on this matter.

Neil O'Brien: In 2017, Public Health England published ‘Spatial planning for health: evidence review’, which concluded that poor housing conditions are a significant contributing factor to poor health outcomes. The Government is addressing poor housing through improving standards in private and socially rented accommodation and delivering the greatest improvements in the poorest performing areas through the Social Housing Bill and Decent Homes Standard.

Nurses: Migrant Workers

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many overseas nurses were working in (a) the NHS and (b) each NHS England Hospital Trust in each year since 2015; and whether he has made an estimate of the cost of (a) recruitment and (b) visas for overseas nurses in year since 2015.

Will Quince: Tables showing the number of headcount and full-time equivalent nurses and health visitors with a non-United Kingdom nationality in National Health Service hospital trusts and core organisations in August of each year since 2015 is attached. No specific assessment of the cost of recruitment for overseas nurses or visas has been made. However, in October 2021, NHS England commissioned a review by the Nuffield Trust, which estimated the cost of recruiting a nurse from overseas at approximately £10,000 to £12,000. Since August 2020, nurses have paid reduced visa fees through the Health and Care Visa.Number of headcount and full-time equivalent nurse (xlsx, 79.2KB)

Infant Foods: Costs

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of Healthy Start vouchers for funding the cost of infant formula.

Neil O'Brien: The Healthy Start scheme is kept under continuous review.In April 2021, the value of the Healthy Start benefit was raised from £3.10 to £4.25 per week, providing additional support to pregnant women and families on lower incomes to make healthy food choices. Children aged under one year old receive £8.50 per week, an increase from £6.20.

Fertility: Medical Treatments

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for people undergoing fertility treatment routinely to be offered treatment to preserve their fertility.

Maria Caulfield: We expect integrated care boards to commission fertility services according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment in England. NICE’s fertility guidelines currently recommend that the National Health Service provides fertility preservation for patients being treated for cancer who wish to preserve their fertility. NICE is currently reviewing these guidelines and we expect that this review will be published in 2024.

GP Surgeries

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new General Practice surgeries offering NHS appointments have opened in each year since 2015.

Neil O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested.

Antimicrobials: Drug Resistance

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he is taking steps to develop future strategies to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Maria Caulfield: In January 2019, the ‘Contained and controlled: The UK’s 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance’ committed to develop a series of five-year national action plans to address antimicrobial resistance within and outside the United Kingdom. The ‘UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’ was also published in January 2019. We are currently developing the second five-year plan for 2024 to 2029. A call for evidence is open until 20 January 2023 to inform the plan and the Government will consult with a range of stakeholders.

Endometriosis: Health Services

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of endometriosis care in England; and what steps his Department plans to take to improve care for people endometriosis that is not classified as severe by NHS England.

Maria Caulfield: No specific assessment has been made. On 3 November 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) confirmed it will update sections in its guideline on diagnosing endometriosis, surgical management and surgical management if fertility is a priority. NICE will also explore the topic of mental wellbeing and support for those with suspected or confirmed endometriosis during the scoping of the update. Whilst NICE guidelines are not mandatory, it provides best practice and we expect healthcare professionals to take this into account in the treatment of patients.

Dental Services

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to improve access to NHS dentistry services in (a) Barnsley East constituency and (b) the UK.

Neil O'Brien: In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care in England, including in Barnsley East.On 25 November 2022, the Department introduced legislation to amend the National Health Service dental contract to more fairly remunerate dentists for complex treatments and improve access for patients. NHS dentists are also required to update practice profiles at NHS.UK more frequently to ensure patients have accurate information on accessing care. We are working with the sector and NHS England on further improvements to increase patient access and reduce health inequalities.

Elective Recovery Taskforce

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the findings and recommendations of the Elective Recovery Taskforce.

Will Quince: We plan to publish the findings and recommendations of the Elective Recovery Taskforce in April 2023.

General Practitioners: Kingston upon Hull North

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of FTE fully-qualified GPs, excluding GPs in Training Grade, practicing in Hull North as of 16 December 2022; and what the number was in December 2013.

Neil O'Brien: This information is not collected in the format requested.

NHS: Finance

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2022, published on 17 November 2022, CP 751, in what areas the additional £3.3 billion of funding for the NHS will be spent.

Will Quince: The additional £3.3 billion in each of the next two financial years will support the National Health Service in England to respond to significant financial pressures, including inflation. The NHS resource budget will now increase to £165.9 billion in 2024/25 and will improve emergency, elective and primary care performance, introduce reforms to support the workforce and improve long term performance in the health system.

HIV Infection: Kingston upon Hull North

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with HIV in Kingston upon Hull North constituency in each of the last five years.

Neil O'Brien: This information is not collected in the format requested.

Mental Health: Children and Young People

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals on early intervention measures to help safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Maria Caulfield: There are no plans to do so. We have accelerated the deployment of mental health support teams to schools and colleges for approximately 35% of pupils by 2023. We are working with the Department for Education to provide early intervention and mental wellbeing support in education settings. In addition, a call for evidence on long term measures to support mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention closed on 7 July 2022. We are currently analysing over 5,000 responses received.

General Practitioners: Kingston upon Hull North

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of GPs in Kingston upon Hull North constituency.

Neil O'Brien: We are working with NHS England, Health Education England and the profession to increase the general practice workforce, including in Kingston upon Hull North. This includes measures to improve recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encourage them to return to practice.The updated GP Contract Framework announced a number of new schemes, alongside continued support for existing recruitment and retention schemes for the general practice workforce. This includes the GP Retention Scheme, the GP Retention Fund, the National GP Induction and Refresher, the Locum Support Scheme, the New to Partnership Payment and the Supporting Mentors Scheme.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to monitor the national availability of HRT.

Maria Caulfield: There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products available in the United Kingdom and while most remain in good supply, factors including an increase in demand has led to supply issues with a limited number of products. We regularly engage with suppliers, the National Health Service and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to maintain overall supply, including expediting resupply dates of disrupted HRT products.We have issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) on HRT products to ensure an even distribution and allow alternative products to be dispensed as necessary. Since April 2022, 17 SSPs for HRT products have been issued and seven remain in place as the supply of several products affected by short term supply issues has been resolved. We regularly communicate with the NHS on shortages and discontinuations, including HRT products currently affected by supply issues and via the Specialist Pharmacy Service Medicine Supply tool.

Nutrition: Children

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage healthy eating among children in Newcastle Central constituency.

Neil O'Brien: The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) North East facilitates a regional Healthy Weight and Physical Activity Network for local authority public health leads. Through this network, OHID North East has shared national policy, evidence, data and intelligence and social marketing campaigns in relation to healthy eating. Newcastle City Council is an active member of this network and regularly shares examples of local practice. Recently, this has included sharing the work it has undertaken with partners to deliver the holiday activity fund programme, which offered a range of free activities and nutritious food for school-aged children and young people. The North East Association of Directors of Public Health has agreed priority areas for regional work for the next three years. One of these is to understand the current position across the North East in relation to food strategies and explore potential opportunities for collaboration. Work to map existing strategies will begin in January 2023 and the Newcastle area will be contributing to this regional exercise.

Social Services: Kingston upon Hull North

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Hull North constituency.

Helen Whately: No specific assessment has been made.

Asthma: Health Services

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to provide funding for the assessment of toxic indoor air exposure by (a) a new environmental assessment clinic at the Royal London Hospital and (b) other hospital services managing (i) children with asthma and (ii) other vulnerable individuals.

Neil O'Brien: National Health Service commissioners determine funding for specific local health services. In September 2021, NHS England published ‘National Bundle of Care for Children and Young People with Asthma: Phase one’ which sets out standards for the care pathway for children and young people with asthma. This includes assessments for patients on environmental impacts such as indoor and outdoor air quality.

Dental Services: Cost Effectiveness

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to make efficiency savings in NHS dental services; and if he will make a statement.

Neil O'Brien: On 25 November 2022, amendments to the National Health Service dental contract came into effect, which will increase access for patients, make NHS dentistry a more attractive place to work and increase efficiency. NHS England has updated dental contract reporting to record data on patient risk and recall intervals to enable commissioners to identify where patients are recalled sooner than needed, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s existing guidelines. The amendments to the contract also more fairly remunerate NHS dentists for complex Band 2 treatments, which will improve access for those with high treatment needs without affecting patient charges.

Infant Foods

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the health consequences of the watering down of infant formula.

Neil O'Brien: No recent assessment has been made.

Sickle Cell Diseases

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of cold weather on people living with sickle cell disease; and whether his Department is taking steps to help support people with sickle cell disease during winter 2022.

Neil O'Brien: We are working across Government and with external partners to identify those most vulnerable to the health impacts of the increased cost of living and any further action which can be taken in winter 2022/23 to support them.We recognise that people are worried about the rising cost of living, and that will be particularly felt by those with chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease. The Government announced a £37 billion package of cost of living support to help households and businesses, including a £15 billion targeted package of direct support for the most vulnerable households. People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to further help with the extra costs.This winter we are spending £55 billion to help households and businesses with their energy bills, amongst the largest support plans in Europe. A typical household will save around £900 this winter through the price guarantee in addition to the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme.We are also spending £9.3 billion over the next five years on energy efficiency and clean heat, making homes easier and cheaper to heat. We will spend £26 billion in total on cost of living support next year, including the £900 cost of living payment for eight million poorer households.There is some evidence to suggest that exposure to cold or wind increases hospital attendance with acute pain, not only for Sickle Cell patients. However, there is no scientific evidence that examines the effect of ambient room temperatures and rates of vaso-occlusion.

Healthy Start Scheme

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of healthy start vouchers in the context of rising (a) food and (b) infant formula prices.

Neil O'Brien: While the Healthy Start scheme is kept under continuous review, there are no current plans to increase the value of the benefit.In April 2021, the value of the Healthy Start benefit was raised from £3.10 to £4.25 per week, providing additional support to pregnant women and families on lower incomes to make healthy food choices. Children aged under one year old receive £8.50 per week, an increase from £6.20.

Breastfeeding

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the £50 million investment into breastfeeding support services has been allocated as of 9 December 2022.

Neil O'Brien: The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme launched on 8 August 2022. We plan to distribute approximately £47.5 million to 75 local authorities participating in the programme, with the initial allocation received at the time of joining, with further payments released across three years. The remaining funding will be used for national initiatives to support local delivery, including expanding out-of-hours support available through the National Breastfeeding Helpline and developing training on perinatal mental health and breastfeeding to ensure families receive holistic support.

Public Health: Finance

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to set out the amounts of public health grants to local authorities.

Neil O'Brien: We will announce the 2023/24 Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities in due course.

Dental Services: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure the retention of NHS dentists in Romford.

Neil O'Brien: Earlier this year, NHS England negotiated amendments to the National Health Service dental contract with the British Dental Association and other stakeholders. These improvements, which came into effect in November 2022 and are supported by the sector, will ensure dentists are more fairly remunerated for the delivery of NHS care and making NHS dentistry a more attractive place to work and improve access for patients, including in Romford. NHS England is holding discussions on further improvements and additional reforms are planned in 2023.

Smoking: Health Services

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of investing in measures to help people quit smoking in order to ease pressure on NHS and GP services.

Neil O'Brien: No recent assessment has been made.

Malnutrition: Kingston upon Hull North

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Kingston upon Hull North constituency.

Neil O'Brien: No specific assessment has been made.

Dental Health

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to improve dental health in the UK.

Neil O'Brien: In England, local authorities are responsible for assessing the oral health needs, developing oral health strategies and commissioning oral health improvement programmes for children and adults. The Department provides resources to local authorities to support the assessment and improvement of oral health in children and vulnerable older people.We recently announced that we will consult on the expansion of water fluoridation in the North East to a further 1.6 million people to reduce the incidence of tooth decay. We are also implementing measures to reduce sugar consumption in England, such as the sugar levy. In July 2022, we announced improvements to the National Health Service dental system to improve access and target care for patients with higher oral health needs. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has published ‘Delivering Better Oral Health - an evidence-based toolkit for prevention’ for dental teams to support preventive advice and treatment for patients.

Glaucoma: Health Services

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2022 to Question 94748 on Glaucoma: Health Services, if he will make an assessment of potential cost reductions for the health and care services of early surgical intervention in the treatment of glaucoma.

Neil O'Brien: There are no plans to make a specific assessment. The most appropriate treatment options for any individual will be decided by the relevant clinician in discussion with the patient.

Ophthalmic Services: Special Educational Needs

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy to pause the rollout of theNHS England Special School Eye Care Service.

Neil O'Brien: The NHS Long Term Plan committed to ensure that children and young people with a learning disability and/or autism in special residential schools have access to eyesight, hearing and dental checks. NHS England commenced a proof-of-concept programme in 2021 to pilot and evaluate a potential sight testing service model in residential schools. The pilot is currently being evaluated and we expect this to conclude early in 2023.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct a review of medications which qualify for exemption for payment by patients.

Will Quince: We have no current plans to make a specific assessment.Approximately 89% of prescription items are currently dispensed free of charge and there are wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place.Additionally, people on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption from prescription charges can also seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme, which provides help with health costs on an income-related basis.To support those who do not qualify for an exemption from prescription charges or the NHS Low Income Scheme, the cost of prescriptions can be capped by purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate, which can be paid for in instalments, to allow people receive all their required medicines for just over £2 a week.This year for the first time in 12 years prescription charges for 202/2023 have been frozen to assist with the cost of living. This applies to both the single prescription charge and the prescription pre-payment certificate mentioned above.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the safety of the use of the Bristol Push Model in NHS hospitals.

Will Quince: No specific assessment has been made.

Dental Services: Coventry

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) adults and (b) children in (i) Coventry North East constituency and (ii) Coventry that (A) are not registered with an NHS dentist and (B) have been unable to access NHS dental treatment in each of the last two years; and what steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dentistry in these areas.

Neil O'Brien: No specific estimate has been made as the information requested is not collected centrally.In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in Coventry. We have also introduced improvements to the National Health Service dental system which came into effect in November 2022. This will ensure that dentists are more fairly remunerated for NHS treatment of patients with higher care needs, improve access and make the NHS dental contract more attractive to dentists. Dentists are also legally required to update practice information for patients at NHS.UK at least every 90 days.NHS England is holding further discussions on the NHS dental system with the British Dental Association and other stakeholders and additional reforms are planned in 2023.

Tobacco: Sales

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has made an assessment of the level of compliance with the ban on the sale of cigarettes with a characterising flavour, including menthol.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 8th February 2021 to Question 148892, what steps his Department have taken as a result of Public Health England’s investigation into possible breaches of the prohibition of characterising flavours in tobacco products.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 8th February 2021 to question 148892, if he will publish the findings of Public Health England’s investigation into possible breaches of the prohibition of characterising flavours in tobacco products.

Neil O'Brien: The investigation of possible breaches of the prohibition of menthol as a characterising flavour in cigarettes is ongoing and therefore no assessment has yet been made.The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), which was established in October 2021, has assumed responsibility for the former Public Health England’s investigation. OHID has commissioned independent analysis of 20 cigarette brands of interest, in its role as the United Kingdom’s Competent Authority for tobacco. The results from this testing have recently been shared with OHID and discussions on next steps are ongoing. We continue to seek full compliance with current legislation around menthol as a characterising flavour in cigarettes and OHID plans to publish its findings in due course.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 13 December 2022, Official Report column 1092, what steps he is taking to monitor possible side effects from Covid-19 vaccines; whether he has commissioned further research to facilitate better understanding of how to diagnose and treat those who have suffered ill-effects from a Covid-19 vaccine; and when he plans the outcome of that research will be published.

Maria Caulfield: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continually monitors safety during the widespread use of a vaccine. For the COVID-19 vaccines, MHRA shares information with other medicines regulators and works with public health partners in reviewing the effectiveness and impact to ensure the benefits continue to outweigh any possible side effects. The results of this monitoring are published monthly and the latest report is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1121345/vaccine-surveillance-report-week-48-2022.pdfThe MHRA also publishes a monthly summary of adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting#update-on-publication-frequencyThe National Institute for Health and Care Research has allocated more than £110 million for research on COVID-19 vaccines, including a £1.6 million programme to understand the rare condition of blood clotting with low platelets following vaccination for COVID-19. The study is due to complete in February 2023 and results will be published in due course following peer review.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 90728 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, for what reason claims under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme for serious adverse effects arising from myocarditis, pericarditis and myocardial infarction arising from covid-19 vaccines have been rejected on grounds of lack of a causal connection to covid-19 vaccines despite such conditions being referred to in patient information leaflets as having a link to covid-19 vaccines.

Maria Caulfield: Whilst patient information leaflets may show potential causal connections between certain conditions and the COVID-19 vaccines, there may be other causes which are unrelated to the vaccines. Therefore, the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme’s medical assessors consider the causal link between an individual’s health condition and a vaccine, rather than at population level. It is for medical assessors to determine whether on the balance of probability there is a causal link between the vaccine and the condition in the individual’s case.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Shortages

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2022 to Question 104415 on Hormone Replacement Therapy: Shortages, for what reason some serious shortage protocols have been extended into 2023.

Maria Caulfield: In 2022, 17 Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) were issued to mitigate supply issues affecting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medicines. SSPs can be extended or withdrawn to take account of changing supply situations and 10 of these SSPs have subsequently been withdrawn due to improvements in supply. As the industry ensures there is a long-term, sustainable supply of HRT products to meet demand, we are taking precautionary action by extending some SSPs to improve availability of products still affected by supply issues.

Menopause: Research

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Page 85 of the Women’s Health Strategy following the analysis of the call for evidence written evidence submission, what steps his Department has taken to encourage research on the relationship between early menopause and developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Maria Caulfield: The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the link between early menopause and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the usual practice of NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics and research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available.The NIHR expects to commission a new policy research unit dedicated to reproductive health, subject to receiving high quality applications. The new unit will undertake research to inform policy in areas such as menstruation and gynaecological conditions, including menopause. Applications are currently being reviewed and the unit is expected to operate from January 2024. The NIHR is commissioning a menopause research prioritisation exercise, considering research recommendations from a range of experts. Following completion of the exercise, we expect that research will be commissioned in summer 2023.

Sodium Valproate

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to replace sodium valproate therapy.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set targets for the (a) reduction and (b) end of the use of sodium valproate other than in exceptional circumstances.

Maria Caulfield: While sodium valproate is authorised for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder, other medicines are available to treat these conditions. Currently, sodium valproate should not be used in pregnancy unless another suitable treatment is unavailable. It should not be used in women of childbearing potential unless the conditions of the Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme are fulfilled.On 12 December, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency highlighted concerns regarding ongoing exposure to valproate in pregnancy and made recommendations for new safety measures to be put in place. Concerns on the use of sodium valproate are associated with reproduction and may not be applicable to all patients. In due course, the new safety measures will require all patients under 55 years old receiving sodium valproate to be reviewed and for two specialists to independently consider and document that there are no other effective or tolerated treatments. No specific targets have been determined, as it is unclear what proportion of patients require sodium valproate when other medicines are not effective or tolerated.

Long Covid

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of cases of long covid potentially attributable to covid-19 vaccines; for what reason a diagnosis code for such a condition has not been established; and how many patients are being treated with such a condition.

Maria Caulfield: No specific estimate has been made. The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR is supporting research into the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations and has invested £50 million in research into the long term effects of the virus. The Government has allocated £1.6 million for a programme to understand the rare condition of blood clotting with low platelets following vaccination for COVID-19. However, there is no suggestion at this time that persistent long term symptoms of COVID-19 result from vaccination, as long term symptoms are associated with having contracted the virus. The information requested on the number of people being treated is not collected centrally.

Estradot

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the availability of Estradiol Sandrena gel sachets in each region.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the availability of Estraderm patches in each region.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the availability of Estradiol Lenzetto spray in each region.

Maria Caulfield: There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products available in the United Kingdom and while most remain in good supply, a range of factors including an increase in demand has led to issues with a limited number of products.There are currently Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) in place for Sandrena gel, Lenzetto spray and Estraderm MX 75 microgram patches. We are aware of ongoing supply issues with these products and have extended the SSP

Maternity Services: Physiotherapy

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of pelvic physiotherapy in both ante natal care and post partum.

Maria Caulfield: We have no current plans to make a specific assessment.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance recognises that physiotherapy is important for the prevention and treatment of pelvic floor problems relating to pregnancy and birth. The NHS Long Term Plan set out a commitment to ensure that women have access to multidisciplinary pelvic health clinics and pathways across England.NHS England is deploying perinatal pelvic health services to improve the prevention, identification and access to physiotherapy for pelvic health issues antenatally and postnatally. Two-thirds of local maternity and neonatal systems are expected to establish these services by the end of March 2023, with full deployment in England expected by March 2024.

Health Services: Females

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that women's (a) concerns and (b) healthcare are prioritised in the NHS.

Maria Caulfield: The Women’s Health Strategy sets out how we will ensure women’s concerns and healthcare are prioritised.

Ophthalmic Services: Special Educational Needs

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the independent evaluation of the NHS England special schools eye care service.

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether literature provided to (a) parents and (b) special schools engaged in the NHS England special schools eye care service stated that it was a (i) proof of concept and (ii) pilot programme.

Neil O'Brien: The independent evaluation of the NHS England special schools eye care service is currently being finalised. The findings will inform decisions on the scope, funding and delivery of any future sight testing model and will be subject to further engagement.

Menopause: Long Covid

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to encourage research on the potential impact of (a) covid-19 and (b) long covid on menopausal women.

Maria Caulfield: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). While no specific research has been commissioned on the potential impact of COVID-19 on menopausal women, the NIHR has funded research into menopause, COVID-19 and the long term effects of the virus.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. However, it is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence funding for research into particular topics or conditions. Subject to receiving high quality applications, the NIHR expects to commission a new policy research unit dedicated to reproductive health. The new unit will undertake research to inform policy in areas such as menstruation and gynaecological conditions. Applications are currently being reviewed and the unit expected to operate from January 2024.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to encourage research on the wider benefits of using hormone replacement therapy for (a) osteoporosis and (b) cardiovascular disease; and what assessment he has made of the impact of prescribing that therapy earlier in the menopause cycle on those conditions.

Maria Caulfield: The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The NIHR is commissioning a menopause research prioritisation exercise, considering recommendations from a range of experts. Following completion of this exercise, we expect that research will be commissioned in summer 2023.The NIHR also expects to commission a new policy research unit dedicated to reproductive health, subject to receiving high quality applications. The new unit will undertake research to inform policy in areas such as menstruation, gynaecological conditions and menopause. Applications are currently being reviewed, with the unit expected to operate from January 2024. No specific assessment of the impact of prescribing HRT earlier in the menopause cycle on osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease has been made.

Elective Recovery Taskforce: Ophthalmology

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether ophthalmology was discussed at the first meeting of the Elective Recovery Taskforce on 7 December 2022.

Will Quince: Yes.

Menopause

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on updating the NICE guidelines on menopause.

Maria Caulfield: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its guideline on menopause and recently published the scope for the update following consultation with stakeholders, including professional bodies. NICE expects to publish its updated guideline in January 2024.

Elective Recovery Taskforce

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library the terms of reference of the Elective Recovery Taskforce.

Will Quince: The terms of reference for the Elective Recovery Taskforce will be published shortly.

NHS: Staff

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2022 to Question 98750 on NHS: Staff, which stakeholders NHS England has consulted on that plan; and whether NHS England has consulted the Royal Colleges of Medicine.

Will Quince: Independent think tanks have contributed to test and refine the plan’s methodology. NHS England has consulted with stakeholders including medical Royal Colleges, trade unions, regulators, system leaders, third sector organisations and representation from the workforce. NHS England will undertake further engagement with interested organisations before the plan is finalised.

Gynaecology: Waiting Lists

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2022 to Question 104352 on gynaecology waiting times, how many patients are on the waiting list for gynaecology in each month since January 2020 by Trust level.

Will Quince: This information is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/

Mental Health: Charities

Cherilyn Mackrory: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are any urgent funding pools available for mental health charities facing imminent closure.

Maria Caulfield: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the Charity Commission provides guidance for charities on managing finances, including potential insolvency, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-financial-difficulties-insolvency-in-charities-cc12/managing-financial-difficulties-insolvency-in-charities#dealing-with-potential-insolvency

Streptococcus: Health Services

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the devolved regions adequate resources to support health services in tackling (a) Strep A and (b) scarlet fever.

Maria Caulfield: As health is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations are responsible for responding appropriately to the needs of the respective populations, including addressing outbreaks of scarlet fever and Group A streptococcus (GAS).The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) collaborates with the devolved administrations and the relevant public health agencies. Representatives from the devolved administrations attend the UKHSA’s incident management team meetings, including for the GAS incident. Information on serious cross‑border threats to health, new and emerging threats, surveillance and response coordination is also shared.

Draft Mental Health Bill

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to bring forward the Mental Health Bill; and whether that Bill will include measures on (a) early intervention, (b) family stability and (c) the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Maria Caulfield: The Government published a draft Mental Health Bill on 23 June. The draft Bill is currently subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint Parliamentary Committee, which is due to report by 13 January 2023. Following pre-legislative scrutiny, the Government will bring forward a Mental Health Bill when Parliamentary time allows. The proposed legislative reforms aim to provide greater autonomy to individuals to inform their care and treatment, including children and young people. It also aims to ensure that inpatients, including those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, have improved support to access their rights under the Act.

Members: Correspondence

Mr John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay dated (a) 23rd August, (b) 5th October, (c) 17th October, (d) 17th November and (e) 1st December, case reference JB38684.

Helen Whately: We replied to the hon. Member on 14 October 2022.

Dyslexia: Health Services

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support adults who were diagnosed with dyslexia after they had left school.

Maria Caulfield: NHS.UK provides advice and support for adults diagnosed as dyslexic, including the use of technology and reasonable adjustments at work. The Access to Work grant provides personalised support and workplace assessments, assistance with travel, job coaches, specialist aids and equipment such as vehicle adaptations for disabled people, which may include adults with dyslexia. The Government also supports those with special educational needs and disabled people through Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisors in Jobcentres, the Disability Confident employer scheme and the Information and Advice Service which provides tailored guidance on supporting and managing disability in the workplace.The Department of Education has invested £1.34 billion in the 2022/23 academic year in education and skills training for adults through the adult education budget (AEB). The AEB includes funds to meet the additional needs of those with learning difficulties and disabilities, including the costs of reasonable adjustments. This can include an assessment for dyslexia and funding to pay for specialist equipment or assistance.

Transplant Surgery

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the recommendations from the Organ Utilisation Group.

Neil O'Brien: The Department plans to publish the recommendations of the Organ Utilisation Group in the new year.

Nutrition: Children

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of children who regularly eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency and (b) the North East.

Neil O'Brien: This information is not held in the format requested. However, historic data in 2014/15 from a standalone survey of health behaviours in children who are 15 years old by region, showed that 46.8% of those in the North East reported eating five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) provides information on dietary intakes and of nutritional status for children and adults in the United Kingdom by age group. The latest NDNS data, between 2016 to 2019, shows that 12% of children aged 11-18 years old consumed five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of commissioning an independent review into alcohol harms.

Neil O'Brien: No specific assessment has been made. However, in 2016 the former Public Health England published an assessment of the effectiveness of policies to reduce alcohol-related harm in England. This included a review of the evidence on the public health burden of alcohol in England and policy responses to reduce the health, social and economic harm.Alcohol-related harms are being addressed through commitments in the ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’ green paper, the NHS Long Term Plan and improvements to the substance misuse treatment system through the drugs strategy ‘From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives’.

NHS: Pay

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ask the Independent NHS Pay Review Body to make an assessment of (a) the pay received by nurses and other grades on the Agenda for Change pay scales in comparison with the equivalent rates of pay in 2010 and (b) the extent to which that comparison reflects the increases in pay received in the rest of the labour market over that period.

Will Quince: Since 2010, annual pay awards have increased basic pay for full-time nurses and health visitors by approximately 23% on average. The Government has accepted the latest recommendations of the independent Pay Review Bodies for National Health Service staff in full and committed to a pay increase next year, asking for recommendations for those staff in scope. In formulating its recommendations, the Pay Review Bodies consider evidence from a range of stakeholders, including NHS system partners and trade unions and factors such as recruitment, retention, morale, motivation, affordability and the economic context, including inflation and the labour market.

Nurses: Pay

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has asked the NHS Pay Review Body to make an assessment of what the level of nurses' wages should be in the context of the wider employment market.

Will Quince: In formulating recommendations, the NHS Pay Review Bodies consider evidence from a range of stakeholders, including National Health Service system partners and trade unions. The Pay Review Bodies have a remit to consider factors including recruitment, retention, morale, motivation, affordability and the economic context, including salaries in the context of the employment market. The Government accepted the recommendations of the independent Pay Review Bodies for NHS staff in full and committed to a pay increase next year, asking for recommendations for the staff in scope.

NHS: Strikes

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the role of (a) inflation and (b) other factors in the decision by NHS staff to strike.

Will Quince: The Government has accepted in full the recommendations made by the independent Pay Review Body on a pay deal for National Health Service staff. In formulating its recommendations, the Pay Review Body considers evidence from a range of stakeholders, including the NHS and trade unions. It also considers factors such as recruitment, retention, morale and motivation, affordability and the economic context, including inflation.

Streptococcus: Antibiotics

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has received any notifications from suppliers of antibiotics used to treat Strep A of any supply issues, as per their legislative requirements.

Will Quince: We have received notifications from suppliers about specific presentations of antibiotics which can be used to treat Step A, however, alternative supplies currently remain in stock of these presentations and other antibiotics.

Cancer: Health Services

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that cancer treatment will not be affected by the proposed nursing strikes in the UK.

Will Quince: NHS England will work with providers, professional bodies and trade unions to agree the safe level of staffing during any industrial action. The Royal College of Nursing has announced that chemotherapy treatments will be exempt from strike action. Hospitals will ensure that emergency and urgent treatments will be prioritised and appointments and operations should continue unless there is a reason to reschedule for patient safety.

Antibiotics: Production

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many facilities producing (a) generic and (b) speciality antibiotics there are in the UK.

Will Quince: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS: Staff

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government’s announcement of an NHS Workforce Plan will include specific actions to address the workforce challenges within sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Will Quince: The long term workforce plan is currently being developed by NHS England. The plan will look at the mix and number of staff required across all parts of the country over the next 15 years and will set out the actions and reforms that will be needed to reduce supply gaps and improve retention. The plan is for the whole of the National Health Service workforce, including sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Protective Clothing: Contracts

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has recovered from fraudulent personal protective equipment contracts as of 12 December 2022.

Will Quince: As of 12 December 2022, the Department has recovered £18 million related to personal protective equipment contracts, through additional examination and checks on contracts identified as heightened risk and contract management to prevent loss.

Hospitals

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of publicly-funded hospitals in England built in or before (a) 1948 and (b) 1939.

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the data his Department holds on how many publicly-funded ambulance stations in England were built in or before (a) 1948 and (b) 1939.

Will Quince: NHS England collects data on National Health Service buildings through the annual Estates Returns Information Collection. While this data includes the age profile of NHS buildings, it does not specifically identify sites dated prior to 1939, although information on sites built prior to 1948 is collected. This information shows that there are 15 publicly funded ambulance stations built prior to 1948. Data for 2021/22 was published on 13 October and is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/england-2021-22

Hospitals: Travel

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) subsidising the cost of travel and (b) removing car parking charges for people who require frequent appointments and treatment at hospitals.

Will Quince: There are no plans to make a specific assessment. We have committed to provide free hospital car parking for specific groups, which includes those who attend frequent outpatient appointments. As of 31 October 2022, this had been implemented in all National Health Service trusts which charge for car parking. NHS trusts are encouraged to follow the ‘NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts’, which states that charges, where these exist, should be reasonable for the area.

Hospitals: Buildings

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the eradication of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete on the NHS estate will be funded; and what the expected timeframe is of the eradication of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete on the NHS estate.

Will Quince: The Government has committed to the removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from the National Health Service estate by 2035 and protecting patient and staff safety in the interim. We have allocated £685 million to mitigate the risks and are working with the worst affected trusts to determine how to eradicate RAAC, including replacing two hospitals in the New Hospital Programme.

Nurses: Training

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to incentivise nurses to undertake training within a primary care context.

Will Quince: The Government supports General Practice nurses (GPNs) through programmes designed to incentivise training in primary care. NHS England commissioned and offered the CARE Programme to all of the 42 integrated care boards to run it at least once. This programme offers health and well-being support, leadership development and population health management education and training to nurses and other staff in general practice. Through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, NHS England also fully reimburse trainee nursing associates and nursing associates and reimburse training time to become a nurse for the latter.Health Education England (HEE) also provide support for employers who wish to take on a trainee nursing associate, £8,000 over the two year training, £4,000 per year. Additionally, HEE are in the process of commissioning a module that will be available nationally that aims to provide support to those looking for their first role in primary care and general practice, helping them to develop skills and gain knowledge.

NHS: Databases

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Federated Data Platform on urgent and emergency care.

Will Quince: The primary focus of the federated data platform will be the five national use cases as identified and stated within the Prior Information Notice: population health management, care coordination including discharges, elective recovery, vaccinations and immunisations and supply chain. Although these do not directly include urgent or emergency care, the improved flow of patients though hospitals will result from the implementation and will directly impact urgent and emergency care services.

NHS: Pay

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether additional top-up funding will be made available in 2023 to enable NHS England to afford the next pay reward recommendation.

Will Quince: The independent Pay Review Body (PRB) process is the established mechanism for determining pay uplifts in the public sector, including staff working in the National Health Service. As the PRB is independent, we cannot pre-empt their future recommendations. We will carefully consider their reports when we receive them next year.

Hospitals: Construction

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the proposed sites for the new hospital programme he has visited since 5 July 2022.

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the projects proposed under the new hospital programme will be complete by 31 December 2022.

Will Quince: Since 5 July 2022 the Secretary of State has visited the following hospitals that are part of the New Hospital Programme:¾ Whipps Cross University Hospital;¾ Hillingdon Hospital;¾ Milton Keynes Hospital;¾ Kettering General Hospital;¾ Leeds General Infirmary;¾ Moorfields Eye Hospital; and¾ Royal Liverpool University HospitalBy 31 December 2022, two of the New Hospital Programme schemes will have been completed. These are The Northern Centre for Cancer Care (August 2021) and Royal Liverpool Hospital (October 2022). A further five schemes are currently in construction.

NHS: Pay Settlements

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his red lines are in his negotiations with the unions on NHS pay; and whether he would be willing to increase his pay offer within those red lines.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make concessions on the level of pay for low paid workers in the NHS.

Will Quince: The Pay Review Body (PRB) process is the established mechanism for determining pay uplifts in the public sector, including for staff working in the National Health Service. The Government has accepted the recommendations of the independent pay review body and over one million NHS workers will receive a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year. Those on the lowest salaries, such as porters and cleaners, are seeing a pay rise of up to 9.3%. This is on top of a 3% pay increase last year when public sector pay was frozen, and wider government support to the general public to help with the cost of living.

Streptococcus: Screening

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he expects the Group B Strep trial to report before early 2025.

Will Quince: Group B Streptococcus: a cluster randomised trial with economic and acceptability evaluations is expected to end on 31 May 2024 and findings will be reported following a full analysis of the trial data.

Allergies: Health Services

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to publish guidance on fragrance free (a) health centres and (b) hospitals to help support people with (i) allergies and (ii) breathing difficulties.

Will Quince: The Department has no current plans to publish guidance on fragrance free health centres and hospitals.

NHS: Drugs

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) the National Homecare Medicines Committee and (b) NHS England has taken steps to help ensure that homecare medicines services providers return to contractual levels of service standards in the last two years.

Will Quince: NHS England’s Commercial Medicines Unit holds regular supplier review meetings with contracted homecare providers every three months. Homecare providers are assessed on a monthly basis against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Providers which do not meet the KPIs are held to account and through stakeholder meetings, reporting metrics and face to face meetings, NHS England ensures that levels of service are returned to the relevant professional standards.In addition, the National Homecare Medicines Committee (NHMC) holds regular meetings with all homecare providers, focusing on the national KPIs. Where these KPIs or service levels do not meet the relevant standards, the NHMC enacts an escalation process. This process requires the affected homecare provider to communicate with each affected National Health Service organisation with a summary of issues, mitigations and expected timescales for recovery. If necessary, the Care Quality Commission and the General Pharmaceutical Council are also informed. The NHMC has confirmed that this escalation process has been enacted on several occasions in the past two years.

Doctors: Training

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to establish an NHS bursary scheme to train doctors.

Will Quince: The NHS Bursary scheme is already in place for medical students.During relevant course years, eligible medical students can apply for the NHS Bursary which provides non-repayable funding for tuition fees of up to £9,250, maintenance costs of between £1,000 and £4,191, travel and dual accommodation costs, support for childcare, dependants and students living with a disability. Further funding is available to help students manage shortfalls between their income and expenditure of up to £3,000.Eligible medical students can also apply for a reduced rate maintenance loan for living costs from Student Finance England during NHS Bursary years.

NHS: Protective Clothing

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) Government officials and (b) officials in his Department are currently employed to oversee the storage of personal protective equipment.

Will Quince: The information is not held in the format requested. Officials working on personal protective equipment (PPE) are engaged in a range of roles such as policy development, analysis, finance and reporting. This also includes oversight of the storage of PPE.

Lung Diseases: Research

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research on a cure for pulmonary fibrosis.

Will Quince: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). In the last five years, the NIHR has funded 14 projects into pulmonary fibrosis with an award value of £12.7 million and supported the delivery of more than 300 studies via its infrastructure, including research on potential treatments.

Surgery: Waiting Lists

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment, with the Elective Recovery Taskforce, on the potential impact of medical technology on steps being taken to reduce waiting for elective care; and if he will make a statement.

Will Quince: The Elective Recovery Taskforce aims to reduce waiting lists and ensure patients can access elective services as soon as possible. The Taskforce will consider the deployment of technical interventions, such as virtual appointments, to reduce waiting times for elective care. While the Taskforce does not have a clinical remit, it may hear evidence of specific technological interventions.

Medical Treatments: Innovation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of when the first medicine will be selected to enter the Innovative Medicines Fund.

Will Quince: No specific estimate has been made. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England continually monitor for potential medicines for the Innovative Medicines Fund. NICE will provide guidance on whether a managed access proposal through the Fund would be feasible.

Medical Equipment: Procurement

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to make medical device manufactures declare payments made to them by (a) doctors, (b) teaching hospitals and (c) research institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Will Quince: There are no specific plans to do so. However, the Government accepted in principle the recommendation of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review to introduce mandatory reporting for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries of payments made to doctors, teaching hospitals and research institutions. Since then, we have legislated through the Health and Care Act 2022 to enable regulations requiring businesses to declare such payments. Following stakeholder engagement with industry, professional regulators and healthcare professionals, we are developing plans on how to deliver on the objectives of the recommendation.

Health Professions: Yorkshire and the Humber

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses have been recruited by the NHS in Yorkshire in each of the last 5 years.

Will Quince: The following table shows the headcount number of doctors and nurses and health visitors that joined active service in National Health Service hospital trusts and commissioning bodies in the North East and Yorkshire region for the last five years. June 2017 to 2018June 2018 to 2019June 2019 to 2020June 2020 to 2021June 2021 to 2022Doctors2,8813,1864,0882,7553,514Nurses and Health Visitors4,8655,2265,8274,3166,741Source: NHS Digital, Quarterly Workforce Statistics June 2022Notes:Joiners can include those returning to active service (for example from maternity leave or career breaks), as well as those newly joining the NHS or joining from a different part of the health and social care system (for example general practice).  This is particularly important to note in respect to doctors as they may undertake periods of work outside of hospital trusts as part of their training programmes and development.Data is published by NHS England Geographical region hence the data presented covering the wider geography of the North East and Yorkshire region.

Parkinson's Disease: Drugs

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with hospital trusts on taking steps to help ensure that people with Parkinson’s Disease get their medication on time in hospital settings in England.

Will Quince: There have been no recent Ministerial discussions. Hospital providers are responsible for ensuring that patients within hospital settings receive the appropriate medication on time, including those with Parkinson’s disease.NHS England has published a RightCare toolkit which aims to address challenges in providing services for those with progressive neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease. The toolkit provides advice on medicine optimisation, highlighting the importance of timely administration of specific drugs, such as Levodopa, in acute and community health settings.

NHS: Drugs

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the quality assurance and governance processes set out in contracts for homecare medicines service in England include as key performance indicators for monthly performance assessment the number of (a) delayed deliveries, (b) delayed treatment initiations and (c) missed doses.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what powers NHS England has to hold homecare medicines services providers to account for (a) delayed deliveries, (b) delayed treatment initiation and (c) missed doses of medicines.

Will Quince: Homecare providers are assessed on a monthly basis against national Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for National Health Service framework agreements and regionally for local contracting. Regular formal assessments are made through face-to-face meetings with the National Homecare Medicines Committee (NHMC) and NHS England. These KPIs include delayed deliveries and missed doses.When KPIs or NHS hospitals report that service levels do not meet the relevant standards, the NHMC enacts an escalation process. Where this process is in place, the affected homecare provider will provide each NHS organisation with a summary of the issues, mitigations and expected timescales for recovery. If necessary, the Care Quality Commission and the General Pharmaceutical Council are also informed.The National Clinical Homecare Association is working with the British Society for Rheumatology to arrange discussions with its members, the NHMC and NHS England regarding the safety and performance of the Homecare Medicine Delivery Service.

NHS: Standards

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on which dates the 14 hospital sites participating in the Clinical Review of Standards pilot will be re-introduced into the national monthly reporting of the four-hour standard.

Will Quince: No formal decision has been made. A recovery plan for urgent and emergency care will be published in the new year and will set out measures on accident and emergency waiting times.

Evusheld

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of all available world-wide source material on the effectiveness of Evusheld and within that list, to identify which source material, if any, were excluded by Rapid C-19 when producing advice on Evusheld procurement to Ministers, and on what criterion.

Will Quince: An exhaustive list of all available world-wide sources is not held centrally. RAPID C-19 has considered the evidence base for the effectiveness for Evusheld, including through monitoring the emerging data such clinical trials, in vitro analysis and observational studies. A summary of this evidence is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rapid-c-19-oversight-group-report-to-chief-medical-officer-review-of-evusheld/rapid-c-19-oversight-group-report-to-chief-medical-officer-summary

Long Covid

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to assess the welfare requirements of (a) NHS and (b) social care staff who have long Covid.

Will Quince: While there are no specific plans to do so, support for National Health Service staff is kept under review.NHS England has invested £224 million to date to provide care for people, with post COVID-19 syndrome, with 90 adult and 14 paediatric specialist services operating in England. Those who show the long term effects of COVID-19 infection are assessed and directed to appropriate care pathways which will provide support and treatment.A range of support is available for NHS staff who are experiencing symptoms of post COVID-19 syndrome, including training and guidance for teams and leaders, access to Occupational Health and Wellbeing services and local Employee Assistance Programmes.The majority of care workers are employed by private sector providers who determine their pay and terms and conditions of employment. The Department expects all care providers to support good health and safety practices.

Coronavirus: Immunosuppression

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 97699 on Coronavirus: Immunosuppression, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of measures to protect people with a compromised immune system from serious illness due to COVID-19; and if he will make a statement.

Will Quince: The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that those with severe immunosuppression should be offered three primary doses of a COVID-19 vaccination and keeps this advice under continuous review. The Government has made a range of new treatment options available in the community for patients at greater risk from COVID-19. This includes two oral antivirals and the intravenous antiviral, remdesivir. Patients in hospital with COVID-19 continue to have multiple treatment options, including dexamethasone, tocilizumab or sarilumab.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many to UK-based randomised clinical trials for cannabis-based medicinal products (a) have been completed since 2018 and (b) are currently ongoing.

Will Quince: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advised there have been 20 United Kingdom-based randomised clinical trials for cannabis-based medicinal products completed since 2018 and 13 are currently ongoing.

Ambulance Services: Shropshire

Helen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of delays to category 1 and 2 ambulance responses in Shropshire, Telford and the Wrekin.

Will Quince: No specific assessment has been made, as this information is not collected in the format requested.

Midwives: Workplace Pensions

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of midwives working in the NHS in England were members of the NHS Pension Scheme (a) in December 2017 and (b) in the most recent period for which data is available; and what the age profile of midwife members of the scheme was.

Will Quince: In December 2017 there were 26,356 midwives working for National Health Service trusts and core organisations in England, of which it is estimated that approximately 91% were members of the NHS Pension Scheme. The most recent data available shows that in July 2021, there were 26,556 midwives, of which approximately 90% were members of the NHS Pension Scheme. The following table shows the estimated proportion of midwives by age group with a membership in the NHS Pension Scheme in December 2017 and July 2021. July 2021December 2017Under 25 years old94%94%25 to 34 years old89%89%35 to 44 years old90%93%45 to 54 years old94%96%55 to 64 years old87%86%Over 65 years old58%25%All ages90%91% Source: NHS Digital Workforce Statistics, Departmental analysis of Electronic Staff Record

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, at what cost his Department procured the Pfizer-BionTech covid-19 vaccine as of 9 December.

Maria Caulfield: We are unable to provide the information requested as it is commercially sensitive.

Valsartan

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of supply of (a) 40mg and (b) 80g Valsartan tablets in the UK.

Will Quince: While no specific assessment has been made, we are not aware of supply issues with these capsules. There is currently sufficient stock to meet demand in the United Kingdom.

Cancer: Radioisotopes

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure NHS cancer services have supplies of the isotopes used in the detection and measurement of cancer spread, following mechanical failures at the SCK CEN nuclear plant in Belgium.

Will Quince: The Department has worked closely with the British Society of Nuclear Medicine and other specialist clinicians to issue guidance to the National Health Service on how to manage patient services affected by the recent shortage of Technetium-99m generators and other reactor-produced radioisotopes. The Government recognises the importance of maintaining access to radioisotopes for medical applications. We are working closely with counterparts in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to explore the role United Kingdom’s nuclear sector could have in supporting access to the reactor-produced medical radioisotopes in the future and to support the delivery of the £6 million Medical Radionuclide Innovation Programme. This is a new scheme aiming to develop technologies which could produce the isotopes required for nuclear medicine.

Rare Diseases: Drugs

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the medicines regulatory system at supporting novel clinical trials for rare disease treatments.

Will Quince: No specific assessment has been made. However, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) offers a 10-year period of market exclusivity for orphan designated products, which can encourage the pharmaceutical industry to develop medicines for rare diseases. There are flexibilities in the licensing system which consider novel clinical trials and data generation aspects for small population research, such as a Conditional Marketing Authorisation.The Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) supports bespoke product development programmes and aims to accelerate the time to market, facilitating more rapid and efficient patient access to medicines. The entry criteria for the ILAP include a rare disease aspect and a toolkit encourages the use of novel approaches to the clinical trial design and development programme. The MHRA supports the design of novel clinical trials through formal scientific advice, where the methodology, challenges and opportunities of the approach can be considered by a team of experts and the study sponsor.

Scarlet Fever: Antibiotics

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the availability of antibiotics for treating Scarlet Fever.

Will Quince: Officials are working with the devolved administrations to ensure the availability of antibiotics.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason there was redacted specific contractual information concerning the (a) price of vaccine doses, (b) the use of doses, liability rules, and (c) the ownership of IP and industrial trade secrets within the UK’s Government’s procurement contracts for covid-19 vaccines; and what assessment he has made of the impacts of reduced transparency in such documents.

Maria Caulfield: Specific contractual information was redacted in the published contracts for COVID-19 vaccines, as it is commercially sensitive. This redaction ensures that commercially confidential and personal data is not disclosed.

Pfizer: Contracts

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the Government's contract with Pfizer specified that any contractual dispute would be determined by three private arbitrators rather than a court.

Maria Caulfield: It is standard practice for contractual disputes to be settled under the International Chamber of Commerce’s Rules of Arbitration.

NHS: Pay

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the NHS pay dispute.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that representatives of HM Treasury participate in his discussions with the health unions.

Will Quince: My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues relating to the health and social care sector.Attendance at meetings with external organisations, including trades unions, is decided on a case-by-case basis.

NHS: Staff

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a funding settlement to support the NHS workforce plan.

Will Quince: NHS England is currently developing a long term workforce plan which will be used to inform future Government work on meeting the needs of patients and the National Health Service workforce.However, the Government recognises that the NHS is under significant pressure, including from the continuing recovery from the impact of the pandemic. The recent autumn statement is making up to £8 billion available for the NHS and adult social care in England in 2024/25. Funding plans will be subject to business and financial planning and investment decisions and plans beyond the current Spending Review period will be subject to the outcome of future Spending Reviews.

Care Homes: Energy

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support his Department plans to make available for off-grid care homes on increased energy costs.

Helen Whately: The Government has announced the Alternative Fuel Payments (non-domestic), which will provide off-grid businesses and non-domestic consumers using alternative fuels, such as care homes, with a one-off fixed payment of £150 through electricity suppliers.

Motor Neurone Disease: Research

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's announcement that it would invest £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research, published on 14 November 2021, what progress his Department has made on releasing at least £50 million of funding for research into motor neurone disease; and what advice his Department provides to organisations who wish to access that funding.

Will Quince: Through this investment, the Government has collaborated with charity funders to deliver a £4.25 million partnership with the motor neurone disease (MND) research community to increase research and accelerate the delivery of new treatments. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is commissioning up to 19 policy research units, which will include units on end of life care and on dementia and neurodegeneration. This will complement existing applied research in these areas with dedicated policy research relevant to MND. The NIHR welcomes research applications from MND researchers and has launched a highlight notice which invites MND research proposals.

Respite Care

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help unpaid carers access respite care in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England.

Helen Whately: In 2022/23, through the Better Care Fund (BCF) £291.7 million has been allocated to provide short breaks and respite services for carers in England, including in the West Midlands and additional advice and support for carers under the Care Act 2014. Integrated care boards and local authorities must agree how carers will be supported through the BCF.

Cancer: Radiotherapy

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients.

Helen Whately: Since 2016, approximately £162 million has been invested to replace or upgrade 100 radiotherapy machines, in addition to funding for National Health Service trusts to maintain existing infrastructure. In 2019/20, 11 radiotherapy networks were established in England to improve workforce resilience and increase access to specialist skills and knowledge.In 2022/23, NHS England is undertaking a review of external beam radiotherapy capacity. This will support local systems to plan radiotherapy provision and allocate system capital allocations appropriately, based on an assessment of equipment age, capacity and demand, opportunities to improve access and service risk.

Osteoporosis

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of the APPG report into osteoporosis published in November 2022.

Helen Whately: The report’s recommendations are predominately being addressed through the Women’s Health Strategy and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance on assessing and managing the risk of fragility fractures in people aged 18 years old and over. NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time programme aims to improve access to secondary fracture prevention services to supplement the Best MSK Health programme.

Hospitals: Repairs and Maintenance

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the maintenance backlog in hospitals on patient safety.

Will Quince: The National Health Service publishes information on backlog maintenance in the annual Estates Returns Information Collection. While individual NHS organisations are responsible for its estates, we are providing £12 billion over the next three years for maintenance and improvements.

Cancer: Radiotherapy

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to increase radiotherapy capacity in the NHS.

Helen Whately: Since 2016, over £160 million has been invested in radiotherapy equipment, which has replaced or upgraded approximately 100 radiotherapy treatment machines. In 2019/20, 11 radiotherapy networks were established in England to increase access to specialist skills and improve patient outcomes.In 2022/23, NHS England will complete a capacity and demand review of external beam radiotherapy capacity. This will support local systems to plan radiotherapy provision and allocate system capital allocations appropriately, based on an assessment of equipment age, capacity and demand, opportunities to improve access and service risk.

Cancer: Radiotherapy

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of radiotherapy capacity in the NHS.

Helen Whately: Since 2016, over £160 million has been invested in radiotherapy equipment, which has replaced or upgraded approximately 100 radiotherapy treatment machines. In 2019/20, 11 radiotherapy networks were established in England to increase access to specialist skills and improve patient outcomes.In 2022/23, NHS England will complete a capacity and demand review of external beam radiotherapy capacity. This will support local systems to plan radiotherapy provision and allocate system capital allocations appropriately, based on an assessment of equipment age, capacity and demand, opportunities to improve access and service risk.

Care Workers

Helen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the adequacy of the number of social care workers in Shropshire and rural areas.

Helen Whately: There have been no specific discussions. Local authorities work with care providers to meet care needs in the area.

Dementia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help tackle the increase in people with dementia.

Helen Whately: In 2021/22, £17 million was made available to clinical commissioning groups to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses. This included identifying areas of good practice in dementia diagnosis and provision of pre and post diagnostic support.

Members: Correspondence

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to email correspondence dated 23 November 2022 from the hon. Member for Liverpool Walton.

Helen Whately: We have received the hon. Member’s email correspondence of 23 November and we will respond shortly.

Lung Cancer: Screening

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce a national lung screening programme as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee.

Helen Whately: The Department and NHS England are determining how a lung screening programme could be established and the recommendation will be considered in due course.

Cancer: Radiotherapy

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2022 to Question 42282 on Cancer: Radiotherapy, what the timeline is for publication of the NHS England review into radiotherapy capacity.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2022 to Question 42282 on Cancer: Radiotherapy, when he plans to publish the NHS England capacity and demand review of external beam radiotherapy capacity.

Helen Whately: NHS England will complete the capacity and demand review of external beam radiotherapy capacity in 2022/23.

Care Homes: Costs

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is planning to publish independent assessment of the trials by selected local authorities of the fair funding approach to payment for provision of residential care; and if he will make statement.

Helen Whately: There are no current plans to do so. Through the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund, all local authorities were required to engage with providers and submit cost of care exercises and provisional Market Sustainability Plans by 14 October 2022. Charging reform trailblazers were selected to deliver the reforms at an earlier stage to inform the Government’s approach to national implementation, including conducting cost of care exercises. The Department is currently reviewing all local authority returns.

Care Homes: Protective Clothing

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to bring guidance for wearing face masks in care homes in line with (a) hospitals and (b) other health care settings.

Helen Whately: As of 15 December 2022, adult social care guidance has been amended to support a risk-based approach to mask wearing and align with hospitals and other health care settings. This has replaced previous guidance which stated face masks should be worn at all times in adult social care.

Dementia: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press release published 14 December 2022 on global science partnership with Japan, whether it is still the Government’s policy to double dementia research; and whether the funds in that announcement are contributing to that pledge.

Helen Whately: In 2019, we committed to double funding for dementia research. We will double funding for dementia research to £160 million a year by 2024/25. United Kingdom researchers on dementia funded via the global science partnership with Japan will be included in this commitment.

Adult Social Care Discharge Fund

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many integrated care boards received funding from the delayed discharge fund as of 14th December 2022; and how much was provided to those boards by that date.

Helen Whately: All integrated care boards were allocated funding from the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund. The first tranche of £120 million was paid in November 2022 and the second tranche of £180 million will be paid by the end of January 2023, subject to grant conditions being met. Local authorities have been allocated £200 million and these allocations are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-discharge-fund

Memory Clinics: Waiting Lists

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2022 to Question 98800 on Memory Clinics: Waiting Lists, how many (a) memory assessment services and (b) patients waiting for an appointment with such a service there were in each NHS Trust in England on 29 November 2022.

Helen Whately: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, by what date they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day to day operations.

Dr James Davies: The Government is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2050. Central Government reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2019-20 compared to a 2009-10 baseline, exceeding its target of 43%. The Greening Government Commitments set out the actions that UK government departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment, including targets for departmental reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with current targets for the period 2021-25. The Department is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible and has ambitious targets under the Greening Government Commitments.

Department for Education

Sign Language: Education

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to fund free British Sign Language courses for parents or guardians of children who are deaf.

Claire Coutinho: Funding is already available through the Adult Education Budget (AEB) for qualifications in, or focusing on, British Sign Language (BSL) up to and including Level 2. About 60% of the AEB has been devolved to Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority who determine which provision to fund for learners in their areas. The Education and Skills Funding Agency provides the remaining funding for learners in non-devolved areas. Some providers of Community Learning offer BSL courses, and those providers determine the course fees, including levels of fee remission.For qualifications at Level 3 and above, Advanced Learner Loans are available for certain BSL qualifications.There is a statutory duty, under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, for local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of ‘children in need’ in their area, including disabled children, by providing appropriate services to them. Services for disabled children provided under Section 17 will typically include short breaks for parent carers, equipment or adaptations to the home, and support for parents.Section H1 of an education, health and care plan must specify all services assessed as being needed for a disabled child or young person under 18, under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. This may include services to be provided for parent carers of disabled children, including following an assessment of their needs under the Children Act 1989. Where this assessment judges that the family needs provision to learn BSL, it could be included here.

Schools: Capital Investment

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools applied unsuccessfully for capital funding for 2022-23; and if she will provide a list of those schools.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools which had an unsuccessful application for capital funding in the last five years, have not received any capital funding over that period, up to and including 2022-23; and if she will provide a list of those schools.

Nick Gibb: All schools receive some capital funding annually from the Department to support them in maintaining their estates. There are no schools that have received no capital funding in the last five years.The Department committed £1.8 billion for improving the condition of school buildings in 2022/23. Local Authorities, larger multi academy trusts, and larger voluntary aided (VA) bodies receive an annual School Condition Allocation (SCA) to invest in priorities across the schools for which they are responsible. This is a formulaic allocation for which responsible bodies do not need to apply to the Department for.Smaller academy trusts, smaller VA bodies, and sixth form colleges not part of bodies eligible for SCA can bid to the annual Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) for condition projects. CIF eligible schools with urgent condition issues that pose the threat of immediate school closure and that cannot wait until the next round of CIF are eligible to apply for Urgent Capital Support (UCS). The Department does not publish details of unsuccessful applicants to CIF or to UCS.All schools that are eligible for condition funding, including those eligible to apply to CIF, also receive individual allocations of devolved formula capital (DFC) to spend on smaller capital projects. Like SCA, DFC is a formulaic allocation paid each financial year.The Department recently announced that eligible schools and sixth form colleges will receive an allocation from an additional £447 million in capital funding in 2022/23. This is for improvements to buildings and facilities, prioritising works to improve energy efficiency.The school rebuilding programme will carry out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects at 500 schools across England, with buildings prioritised according to their condition.In 2021, the Department confirmed the first 100 schools in the programme based on existing data held by the Department. No schools applied for the programme at that point.The Department ran a nomination process in March 2022 and received nominations for 1,105 schools. 8 of these withdrew, so 1,097 nominations were assessed. 300 of these schools were provisionally confirmed for the programme, based on the condition of their buildings. 61 in July 2022 and a further 239 schools on 16 December. 797 nominations were not taken forward. The list of successful schools and the full list of schools that were nominated can be accessed on GOV.UK.In the past five years, the Department held two rounds of the Selective Schools Expansion Fund, providing capital funding to provide new places under certain restrictions and criteria. A total of £63.6 million was provided to 22 expansion projects. Lists of all applicants and successful applicants are published for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 rounds and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/selective-schools-expansion-fund-successful-applications-2018-to-2019 and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/selective-schools-expansion-fund-successful-applications-2019-to-2020.£24 million was provided in 2019 through the bidding round to provide new school based nursery places for disadvantaged children. A list of successful and unsuccessful applicants was published and can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-nurseries-capital-fund-list-of-application-outcomes.

Members: Correspondence

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Sefton Central dated 11 November 2022 regarding schools funding.

Nick Gibb: A response was sent to the hon. Member for Sefton Central on 13 December 2022.

Students: Cost of Living

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the financial effect of the cost of (a) accommodation and (b) living on students.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to support students in the context of the increase in the costs of living.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of universities are providing warm spaces for students to study (a) seven days a week and (b) 24 hours a day.

Robert Halfon: The department recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and that have impacted students. Many higher education (HE) providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance. There is £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help. The department has worked with the Office for Students (OfS) to ensure universities support students in hardship using both hardship funds and drawing on the student premium.Universities and private accommodation providers are autonomous and are responsible for setting their own rent agreements. The department plays no direct role in the provision of student residential accommodation, whether the accommodation is managed by universities or by private sector organisations.All households will save on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount. The Energy Prices Act passed on 25 October 2022 includes the provision to require landlords to pass benefits they receive from energy price support, as appropriate, onto end users. Further details of the requirements under this act are set out in the legislation.Students whose bills are included in their rent, including energy charges, will typically have agreed their accommodation costs upfront when signing their contract for the current academic year. Businesses, including those that provide student accommodation, are covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain.A Treasury-led review will be launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.Decisions on student support for HE courses are taken on an annual basis, and changes for the 2022/23 academic year were made through Regulations laid in December 2021.The government is currently considering options for changes to loans and grants for living and other costs for the 2023/24 academic year starting in August 2023 and an announcement will follow in due course.As autonomous institutions, universities will decide whether to offer warm spaces for students to study 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The department does not hold data on the proportion of universities who are choosing to offer warm spaces. However, we are aware that a number of universities are doing so, in order to better support their staff and students. Many universities already have warm spaces available 24/7 as part of their standard operating procedures.

Schools: Buildings

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has a policy on the minimum temperature at which (a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary school classrooms can be safely used.

Nick Gibb: Schools and nurseries must follow the same health and safety laws for indoor temperatures as other workplaces.During working hours, the temperature in all indoor workplaces must be reasonable.Guidance on minimum temperatures is available from the Health and Safety Executive and available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/employer/the-law.htm#:~:text=Minimum%20workplace%20temperature,work%20involves%20rigorous%20physical%20effort.The Department issued guidance that includes suitable temperatures. This is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-fe-college-estate/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-further-education-college-estate.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Holiday activities and food programme 2022, published on 28 January 2022, how much and what proportion of the funding allocated to each local authority for the 2021-2022 financial year was spent on (a) administration, (b) publicity and marketing, (c) activities, (d) transport, (e) staffing, (f) food and (g) any other expense.

Claire Coutinho: The department's Holiday Activities and Food programme grant letter sets requirements for local authorities programme expenditure. It specifies that up to 10% of an authority’s funding allocation may be spent on programme administration, with the remaining 90% being spent on the direct delivery of free places for eligible children. Local authorities must confirm through an annual Certificate of Expenditure that the funding has been properly expended.An evaluation of the programme, published in March 2022, provides analysis of local authority expenditure on the programme for the Easter and summer holidays in 2021. The evaluation report indicates that 92% of the funding was spent on direct delivery of the programme including face-to-face holiday club provision, food costs, activity costs, staffing costs, and transport costs. The remaining 8% was spent on the administration of the programme by local authorities. The evaluation report is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1065868/Evaluation_of_the_2021_holiday_activities_and_food_programme.pdf.

Pre-school Education: Bristol West

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to address staffing gaps in nursery and childcare sectors in Bristol West constituency.

Claire Coutinho: The department acknowledges that recruitment and retention are key issues for the early years sector in England. Supporting the early years workforce continues to be a priority for the department, and we are working proactively with the sector and local authorities, including those in the Bristol West area, to build our understanding of the situation and how we might support the sector to attract more staff to work in early years education and childcare.The department is providing a package of training, qualifications, expert guidance, and targeted support for the early years sector to focus on the development of the youngest and most disadvantaged children and help to address existing recruitment and retention challenges. This includes providing additional funding for graduate level specialist training leading to early years teacher status and an accredited level 3 early years special education needs coordinator (SENCO) qualification. More information on the early years education recovery programme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-education-recovery-programme.

Pupils and Students: Mental Health

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the findings of the study entitled Perfectionism Is Increasing Over Time: A Meta-Analysis of Birth Cohort Differences From 1989 to 2016, published in 2019 in the Psychological Bulletin, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of perfectionism on the mental health of (a) school, (b) college and (c) university students.

Claire Coutinho: The department collects and assesses a range of data related to children and young people’s mental health to identify trends and better understand the issues adversely affecting mental wellbeing, and publishes an annual State of the Nation report to reflect this.While the department does not plan to make a specific assessment of the impact of perfectionism on the mental health of students, it is taking a range of action to ensure schools, colleges and universities in the UK can support their pupils and students with these underlying issues.Our statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum covers a range of topics that help pupils identify and manage the issues in their lives, develop resilience, and seek support where necessary. This includes topics such as body image, dealing with social media expectations, curating a specific image of yourself online and understanding how online information can be targeted at them.The department is also funding all schools and colleges in the UK to train senior mental health leads on how to put in place effective approaches to mental health and wellbeing. This includes developing a supportive culture where pupils feel able to speak openly about the pressures that they are under and deciding what pastoral support to provide to pupils and students based on that experience.As autonomous institutions, higher education (HE) providers are responsible for supporting their students during their time at university, and this includes evaluating what services their students need and the effectiveness of support services. The department and the Office for Students continue to work closely with the HE sector to promote and fund effective practice to ensure students are well-supported to enable full participation in HE, leading to successful outcomes.

Pupils: Registration

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who can register a child for a school; and what effect a statement of special educational needs has on the rights of the parent.

Claire Coutinho: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Section 86 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, which covers admission to schools in England, enables the parent of a child to express a preference as to which school(s) they would like their child to attend. It also requires school admission authorities in England to comply with that parental preference subject to certain limited exceptions, for example, where the school is oversubscribed. Young people, as well as their parents, can apply for a place at a school sixth form.The Children Act 1989 states that anyone who has parental responsibility for a child can exercise ‘all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property’. For a looked-after child, the local authority is the corporate parent.Statements of Special Educational Need (SEN) were phased out in England after the Children and Families Act 2014. There is now a broader system of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. Where a child has an EHC plan, the parent can request a place at a state school, or various other education settings. The local authority must then name that requested placement on the EHC plan unless it is unsuitable for the child’s age, ability, aptitude or SEN, or the attendance of the child at the school would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others or with the efficient use of resources.

Educational Psychology: Standards

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of educational psychologist provision in (a) Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency and (b) England.

Claire Coutinho: Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of educational psychologists.The department does not collect data on the supply of educational psychologists at a constituency level. Data on the number of educational psychologists employed by local authorities is captured in our ‘School Workforce in England’ statistics, published in June 2022. This is available here: https://content.explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/api/releases/9a34fd81-bbaa-46ca-b5d5-e24c67a15d4d/files/18a597bd-40da-436a-58d0-08da7ec3a78e.In November 2022, the department announced that funding worth £21 million would go towards training 400 more educational psychologists. The first of these cohorts will graduate and join the workforce in 2026, to provide crucial support to children and young people, schools, families, and local authorities. This new funding, in place from 2024, builds on the £10 million announced earlier this year to train over 200 educational psychologists from September 2023.

Parents

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government is taking steps to increase support for parents through (a) improvements in state funded childcare provision, (b) expanding and improving flexible working and (c) improvements to maternity and paternity leave.

Claire Coutinho: The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare. We have spent more than £20 billion over the last five years to support families with the cost of childcare, and thousands of parents are benefitting from government childcare support.To support public sector providers in particular, the department has announced an additional investment of £10 million into Maintained Nursery School supplementary funding from 2023/24, and are consulting on proposals to create a fairer distribution of this funding. This is on top of the increase in 2022/23, where the department has increased the Maintained Nursery School supplementary hourly funding rate by 3.5%, equivalent to the increase in the 3 and 4-year-old hourly funding rates. The department has also confirmed the continuation of Maintained Nursery School supplementary funding throughout the spending review period, providing the sector with long-term certainty.The government’s response to its consultation on flexible working set out our position on expanding and improving flexible working. We have committed to make the right to request flexible working a day-one right, require employers to consult with employees before rejecting their requests, enable employees to make two flexible working requests a year and speed up the decision period. These measures will be taken forward through regulations and through the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill.Regarding Maternity and Paternity Leave, our Maternity Leave entitlement is generous, qualifying employed women are offered 52 weeks of maternity leave, of which 39 weeks are paid. This is more than three times the EU minimum requirement. As set out in our Manifesto, the government is committed to making it easier for fathers to take paternity leave.

Pupil Exclusions

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) removing and (b) reducing the 97 per cent attendance requirement during the trial period of managed moves.

Nick Gibb: The Government does not set any attendance requirements during the period of a managed move.The law does not allow for ‘trial admissions’, once a child has been admitted to a school, they may only be deleted from the admissions register in limited circumstances prescribed by The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended.The updated Suspension and Permanent Exclusion guidance, published in July 2022, makes clear a managed move should be used to initiate a process which leads to the transfer of a pupil to another mainstream school permanently. Managed moves should be voluntary and agreed with all parties involved, including parents/carers and the admission authority of the new school. A managed move should only occur when it is in the pupil’s best interests.Some Local Authorities use their Fair Access Protocols to also consider managed moves. Should anyone have any concerns about the protocols in a particular area, they should take this up with the relevant Local Authority directly.

Academies: Reviews

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Academies regulation and commissioning review advisory group, established by her Department on 29 June 2022, what steps she is taking to balance the freedoms afforded to academies over the curriculum with ensuring pupils have sufficient knowledge and understanding to be able to champion freedom of religion and belief.

Nick Gibb: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Curriculum matters are not within the scope of the Academies regulation and commissioning review.Religious education (RE) is a compulsory subject for all state-funded schools, including academies, and must be offered in all year groups. Academies without a religious designation are free to either follow the locally agreed syllabus for their area, or develop their own curriculum, so long as it meets the requirements of the locally agreed syllabus. Their syllabus must reflect that the religious traditions in the UK are, in the main, Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practice of the other principal religions represented in the UK. Academies with a religious designation should teach RE in accordance with their funding agreements and the tenets of their faith.

Teachers: Pay

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of trends in the level of the cost of living on teachers' (a) pay and (b) disposable income.

Nick Gibb: Teachers’ pay is reviewed, on an annual basis, by the independent Statutory Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), which considers the current economic climate. Pay awards this year provide a careful balance between recognising the vital importance of teachers, whilst delivering value for the taxpayer, and being careful not to drive inflation. Sustained higher levels of inflation would have a far bigger impact on people’s real incomes in the long run than the proportionate and balanced pay increases implemented following the recommendations from the Pay Review Bodies.The Department has implemented the STRB’s recommendation of a significant 8.9% pay uplift to teacher starting salaries outside London in 2022/23, bringing them up to £28,000. The Department has also implemented the STRB’s recommendation of a 5% pay uplift for experienced teachers and leaders in 2022/23. The 5% uplift is the highest pay award for experienced teachers in 30 years. The 5% overall median pay award is equivalent to an increase of £2,100 on the average full time equivalent teacher pay of £41,300 in 2021. The median head teacher pay in 2021 was £69,200.Teachers in the first few years of their career will typically also be eligible for pay progression. Teachers receiving the pay award and progressing one advisory pay point on the main pay range could receive a pay rise of up to 15.9%.The Department recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and affected teachers and their families. The Government has announced further support, worth £26 billion, for next year designed to target the most vulnerable households. This is on top of the £37 billion of cost of living support provided by the Government this year, including a £400 discount to all eligible households on their energy bill this autumn and winter. The Energy Price Guarantee will also continue to shield households from unprecedented energy costs.

Department for Education: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department’s publication of electronic purchasing card spending over £500 for November 2021, what items were purchased from AwesomeMerchandise on 22 November 2021; and for what purpose those items were used.

Nick Gibb: In November 2021, the Department purchased roller banners and stationery from Awesome Merchandise to raise staff awareness about the Department's vision and purpose.

Students: Loans

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of inflation on student loan repayments.

Robert Halfon: The student loan repayment system incorporates a number of protections for those making loan repayments. Repayments are calculated as a fixed percentage of earnings above the relevant repayment threshold, currently £27,295 for a post 2012 undergraduate plan and £21,000 for a post graduate loan. These do not change as a result of the interest rate charged or the amount borrowed. If a borrower’s income drops, so does the amount they repay. If income is below the relevant repayment threshold, or a borrower is not earning, then they do not have to make repayments at all. Any outstanding debt, including interest accrued, is written off after the loan term ends, or in case of death or disability, at no detriment to the borrower. There are no commercial loans that offer this level of protection.To further protect borrowers, the government, by law, must cap maximum student loan rates to ensure the interest rate charged on the loan is in line with market rates for comparable unsecured personal loans. The government monitors student loan rates against the Bank of England’s data series for the effective interest rates on new and existing unsecured personal loans.The government recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year. We have taken action to support people with the cost of living, including through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which provides a price reduction over the winter period. This is alongside the Energy Price Guarantee which is saving the average household over £900.

Birkbeck, University of London: Redundancy

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has taken steps to prevent job reductions at Birkbeck, University of London; and if she will meet with unions and management together.

Robert Halfon: Higher Education (HE) providers are independent, autonomous institutions responsible for their own decisions on staffing issues, including how they structure themselves to deliver research and teaching priorities. Where it is necessary to reshape their activities, it is important that universities carefully consider the impact of job losses on staff and students, and the overall sustainability of teaching and research in this country.The department will continue to work closely with the Office for Students and various parties, including a variety of HE providers across the sector, mission groups and other government departments to understand the ongoing impacts and changing landscape of financial sustainability in the HE sector.

Students: Loans

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of levels of student maintenance loans.

Robert Halfon: The department is currently considering options for changes to loans and grants for living and other costs for the 2023/24 academic year, starting in August 2023. An announcement will follow in due course.The department has continued to increase living costs support each year, with a 2.3% increase to maximum loans and grants for living and other costs for the 2022/23 academic year. Students who have been awarded a loan for living costs for the 2022/23 academic year that is lower than the maximum, and whose household income for the 2022/23 tax year has dropped by at least 15% compared to the income provided for their original assessment, can apply for their entitlement to be reassessed.The department recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year which have affected students. However, decisions on student finance will have to be taken alongside other spending priorities to ensure the system remains financially sustainable and the costs of higher education are shared fairly between students and taxpayers, not all of whom have benefited from going to university.The department is working with the Office for Students to ensure universities support students in hardship using both hardship funds and drawing on the student premium. As part of this, we have invested £261 million into the student premium this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help.To help with the cost of living all households will save on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount. The Energy Prices Act passed on 25 October 2022 includes the provision to require landlords to pass benefits they receive from energy price support, as appropriate, onto end users. Further details of the requirements under this act are set out in the legislation.Students whose bills are included in their rent, including energy charges, will typically have agreed their accommodation costs upfront when signing their contract for the current academic year. Businesses, including those that provide student accommodation, are covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain.A Treasury-led review will be launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.Any student that has concerns should speak to their university about securing additional support.

Students: Cost of Living

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to support students through the cost of living crisis.

Robert Halfon: The department is working with the Office for Students (OfS) to ensure universities support students in hardship using both hardship funds and drawing on the student premium. As part of this, we have invested £261 million into the student premium this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help. Further to this, higher education providers offer additional support programmes.All households will save on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount. The Energy Prices Act passed on 25 October 2022 includes the provision to require landlords to pass benefits they receive from energy price support, as appropriate, onto end users. Further details of the requirements under this act are set out in the legislation.Students whose bills are included in their rent, including energy charges, will typically have agreed their accommodation costs upfront when signing their contract for the current academic year. Businesses, including those that provide student accommodation, are covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain.A Treasury-led review will be launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.Any student that has concerns should speak to their university about securing additional support.

Department for Education: Vacancies

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which five teams in their Department have the highest number of staffing vacancies as a proportion of total staff as of 8 December 2022; and what proportion of roles were vacant in each of those teams.

Nick Gibb: The five teams in the Department with the highest number of staffing vacancies as a proportion of staff as of 8 December 2022, and the proportion of roles that were vacant in each of those teams, can be seen below: Departmental teamProportion of roles vacant within teamStaff within the teamVacancies within the teamEducation and Skills Funding Agency Provider Market Oversight50%11Post-16 Funding28%2911Higher Education Reform22%288Basic Skills & Multiply22%157Transformation21%236 The data provided is accurate as at the requested date but is subject to change as individuals join and leave the Department.

Department for Education: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day-to-day operations.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2050.Central Government reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2019-20 compared to a 2009-10 baseline, exceeding its target of 43%.The Greening Government Commitments set out the actions that UK Government Departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment, including targets for Department reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with current targets for the 2021-25 period. The Department is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible, and has ambitious targets under the Greening Government Commitments.

Children: Food Poverty

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has surveyed schools to find out how many pupils go to school without breakfast; and what steps she is taking to help tackle pupil hunger.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not collect data from schools indicating the number of pupils that go to school without breakfast.The Department is committed to continuing support for school breakfasts. The Department is investing up to £30 million in our national school breakfast programme until the end of the summer term in 2024. This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of children from low income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment, wellbeing, and readiness to learn.The Government also supports the provision of nutritious food in schools, which ensures pupils are well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and can concentrate and learn. Under the benefits based criteria, 1.9 million of the most disadvantaged pupils are eligible for and claiming a free school meal. This saves families around £400 per year.The Department spends around £600 million per year ensuring an additional 1.25 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meals policy in 2014.

Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to include Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education in future partnerships for ensuring (a) multi-academy trust syllabuses and (b) religious education is of the highest standard.

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of teaching non-religious worldviews as part of the Religious Education curriculum; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to extend Teaching school hubs to create centres of excellence for teachers of Religious Education; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government maintains the importance of religious education (RE). It is key in developing young people’s knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain, and those of other countries. RE can contribute to pupils’ personal development and wellbeing by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society.The Government recognises the work that Standing Advisory Councils on RE do in delivering and monitoring high quality religious education. The Department will continue to carefully consider their future role.Non-religious worldviews are included within the Department’s Religious Studies GCSE and A level subject content specifications. RE lessons that the Oak National Academy produced to support remote teaching during the pandemic also included content on non-religious worldviews.The Department has no plans currently to extend teaching school hubs to create centres of excellence for teachers of RE.

Teachers: Workplace Pensions

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) independent and (b) state schools have left the Teachers' Pension Scheme in the last five years.

Nick Gibb: 463 independent schools have left the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) between January 2018 and November 2022. 37 independent schools have joined the Scheme between January 2018 and November 2022. State schools and academies cannot choose to leave the TPS. The records show that 814 state schools have closed and so have ceased to be registered as scheme employers since January 2018. This is largely as a result of state schools converting to academies. 79 new state schools have been registered in the TPS since January 2018.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Accommodation: Damage

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of broken cell windows on the prisons estate.

Damian Hinds: There are currently 1,539 broken cell windows across the prison estate. We undertake an intensive maintenance programme to ensure that as many cells' windows broken per month are repaired, which means that very few cells are taken out of action due to damaged windows.

Women's Centres: Swansea

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Residential Women’s Centre in Swansea.

Damian Hinds: As announced in May 2022 the investment required for the Residential Women’s Centre is £10million.

Law Reporting: Disabilty Aids

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using automatic speech recognition technology for courtroom transcriptions.

Mike Freer: Transcription services for MoJ are currently being re-procured and as part of the re-procurement strategy, MoJ did consider whether full automation would be an option.The MoJ recognises that there are potential merits to using automated technology for courtroom transcriptions, including a potential reduction in the time it takes to produce a transcription and comparative value for money.However, the first consideration is that transcriptions must achieve very high levels of accuracy (99.5%) to ensure the justice system can operate fairly and effectively.The assessment by MoJ has concluded that even software with learning capability, cannot yet reliably meet the accuracy requirements for the service without human intervention.

Family Proceedings: Safety

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects the recommendations of Assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases report, published in June 2020, to be implemented.

Mike Freer: Good progress has been made on delivering the commitments taken forward in the Government’s Implementation Plan, with the majority of these measures already in place or in progress.Changes were brought in as part of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, including automatic eligibility for special measures in the Family Court, the prohibition of cross examination of victims by perpetrators or alleged perpetrators, and a clarification of the law on the use of section 91(14) orders in domestic abuse circumstances. These measures have all now come into force.We are currently undertaking a review into the presumption of parental involvement and its risk of harm exception, in private law children's cases. The evidence gathering stage of the review is currently being undertaken and the final report from the review will be published in 2023.In addition, we are testing reforms to the Child Arrangements Programme and seeking to enhance the voice of the child through the Investigative Approach pilot which has launched in Dorset and North Wales, and through the flexible case management provisions introduced by Practice Direction 36Y.Work is also being progressed through the Family Procedure Rule Committee on amending Rules and Practice Directions to allow IDVAs and ISVAs to accompany parties in the courtroom as a default.

Ministry of Justice: Energy

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which energy provider supplies energy to their Department; how much carbon dioxide was emitted by their Department in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria their Department uses to select an energy supplier include how environmentally friendly that supplier is; and what recent steps their Department has taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its energy use.

Mike Freer: The Department’s energy is supplied through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Energy Framework. Under this framework, EDF supply electricity and TotalEnergies supply gas.The Department’s total carbon emissions for 2021/22 were 248,134 tonnes. The list of Executive Agencies & ALBs & NDPBs in scope for this reporting are: MoJ Headquarters, HM Prison Service, Probation Service, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Children and Family Court Advisory Services, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, Judges Lodgings, Legal Aid Authority, Office of the Public Guardian, Official Solicitor and Public Trustee.The Department is not responsible for selecting its energy supplier. It is mandated to use the energy suppliers procured by CCS. CCS is responsible for developing the award criteria used to select and appoint Government’s energy suppliers.MoJ has been investing in energy efficiency measures (such as replacing lighting with LEDs and fitting smart meters) and installing renewable technology. This has contributed to the Department reducing its overall carbon emissions by 33% since 2017/18 against a target of 41% by March 2025.

Criminal Proceedings: Royal Commissions

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to convene a Royal Commission on criminal justice before the next general election.

Mike Freer: Although we recognise the opportunity that a Royal Commission could present to look at structural questions in the criminal justice system, we think it is right that, following the pandemic and the CBA’s disruptive action, we focus on delivering recovery priorities over the coming months.We continue to keep issues in the wider criminal justice system under review.

Sentencing: Crown Court

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of televising sentencing remarks in Crown Courts.

Mike Freer: In 2020, legislation was passed to allow, for the first time, television cameras into our Crown Courts to film and broadcast sentencing remarks. This power was used for the first time in July 2022 and, most recently for the sentencing of Jordan McSweeney at the Central Criminal Court on 14 December. The broadcasting of Crown Court sentencing remarks is an important measure to allow the public to see justice being delivered, increasing people’s understanding of, and confidence in, our justice system and why judges give the sentences they do. We continue to work closely with HMCTS and the media parties who have permission to broadcast Crown Court sentencing remarks, to ensure that the process runs smoothly.

Ministry of Justice: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what date they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day to day operations.

Mike Freer: The Government is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2050.Central Government reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2019-20 compared to a 2009-10 baseline, exceeding its target of 43%.The Greening Government Commitments set out the actions that UK government departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment, including targets for departmental reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with current targets for the period 2021-25. The Department is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible, and has ambitious targets under the Greening Government Commitments.

Courts: Law Reporting

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the affordability of court transcription services.

Mike Freer: The MoJ is required, under the public procurement regulations 2015, to publicly compete all opportunities for contract. This process helps the MoJ drive value for money through competition for these contracts from a healthy and established transcription industry. Our internal governance process help ensure that value for money is a key factor in how we procure and select our suppliers. We are confident that the rates being currently charged are in line with wider market rates.The services are currently being reprocured due to existing contracts coming to expiry.

Prisons: Health and Safety

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2022 to Question 88986 on Prisons, whether a Regime Management Plan is required by health and safety policies for (a) staff and (b) prisoners.

Damian Hinds: All prisons must have in place a robust and workable Regime Management Plan (RMP), which has been consulted upon and agreed via the local Health and Safety Committee. This will define the capacity of the prison to run various aspects of its regime, based on staffing, the prison population profile and operational capacity. It allows for early and effective planning of the regime, taking into account the likely or actual staffing level.Where absence, recruitment issues or other problems cause staffing to drop below locally defined ranges, the plan allows the prison’s management to make quick, guided decisions, based on an assessment of the risk associated with running particular aspects of the regime, as to how the regime should be adapted to continue to allow safe operation.

Prisons: Staff

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has for long service medals for prison staff in the private sector.

Damian Hinds: The Prison Services Long Service & Good Conduct Medal is awarded to operational staff in the UK Prison Services on completion of 20 years’ continuous meritorious service and aligns, operational public sector prison staff with comparable organisations such as the Police, Fire and Ambulance Services and the Armed Forces. It is a medal awarded by the Head of State to eligible state employees, details of which are set out in a Royal Warrant.  In 2016, the Cabinet Office confirmed that official medals of this type can only be awarded to staff working in public sector prisons and not those in prisons run by private sector companies. This is in line with the existing criteria used for the award of Long Service & Good Conduct Medals to the other Crown services.

Prisoners: Christmas

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the recommendations of the Farmer Review, whether prisoners will be able to have a phone call with family members on Christmas Day .

Damian Hinds: We recognise the importance that support from families and significant others provides for prisoners in helping to reduce the risk of reoffending. Prisoners with in-cell telephony will continue to have normal access to PIN phones during the Christmas and New Year period. For those who do not have in-cell telephones, access to wing-phones will continue to be prioritised in accordance with the regime run by individual establishments each day.

Prisoners' Release: Christmas

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how long prisoners will spend out of cells on Christmas Day.

Damian Hinds: All prisons will be planning to deliver a regime on Christmas day that allows prisoners to spend time out of their cells. However, information about time out of cell for adult prisoners is not held by the Ministry of Justice, as it would require detailed daily monitoring of out-of-cell activity of each prisoner in each establishment. As the Christmas Day regime is decided locally, we do not keep central records of what each prison has planned, and it would not be possible to obtain the information requested on a prison-by-prison basis without approaching each prison individually, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of compensation to prison staff for assault injuries sustained in prison in each year since 2010.

Damian Hinds: Prison litigation data prior to 2016-17 could only be obtained by checking local case files and records at each prison, which would incur disproportionate cost. Figures for the total spend on prisoner-on-staff assault claims since 2016-17 are provided in the table below.YearTotal spend on prisoner on staff assault claims (including legal costs)2016-17£1.8m2017-18£5.2m2018-19£3.3m2019-20£4.3m2020-21£5.4m2021-22£4.5m Violence against our hardworking staff is completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated. Any complaints involving prison staff are always fully investigated.

Prisoners' Release: Christmas

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December to Question 101736 on Prisoners' Release: Christmas, what the offences were of the prisoners temporarily released from prison on 25 December 2021.

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December to Question 101737 on Prisoners' Release: Christmas, whether each of the prisoners released on temporary release on 25 December 2021 returned on schedule.

Damian Hinds: Data on the number of individuals recorded as temporarily released from prison on 25 December 2021, broken down by main offence category, has been published in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI 220830027) and may be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foi-releases-for-september-2022. Records show that 8 of the 1,377 individuals recorded as temporarily released from prison on 25 December 2021 returned late on the date scheduled for their return. None failed to return. Offenders released on temporary licence are subject to strict conditions and risk assessment. Any breaches can result in more time behind bars.

Prisons: Firearms

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of firearms found in prisons in each year since 2010.

Damian Hinds: We publish the number of incidents where weapons were found in prison in England and Wales in the HMPPS Annual Digest, the latest issue covering the period from April 2021 to March 2022. Information beyond this period cannot be included as it would provide an early indication of future National Statistics. The category ‘weapon’ has been formally recorded since October 2015 and prior to this date incidents where weapons were found, including firearms, were not collated centrally. Incidents where weapons were found in prison custody can include finds of multiple weapons; the figures in the table count the number of incidents where a firearm was found rather than the number of firearms. This incident type records any imitation or real firearms found.YearFirearms2016-17142017-18152018-19212019-20212020-21162021-2226 Data Sources and QualityThese figures have been drawn from the HMPPS Incident Reporting System. Care is taken when processing and analysing returns but the detail is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. Although shown to the last case, the figures may not be accurate to that level.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners charged with attempted murder as a result of attacks on staff in each year since 2010.

Damian Hinds: The Crime in Prison Referral Agreement, October (2022), aims to ensure that all acts of criminality that occur in prison are properly addressed within the criminal justice system, particularly in circumstances that indicate that a criminal prosecution is appropriate or where a statutory obligation exists. It is not possible to identify the number of prisoners who have been charged with attempted murder as a result of assaults on prison staff as this information is not held centrally. Detailed information may be held on local administrative records, but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access and review all potentially relevant records which would be of disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Weapons

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of incidents in prisons in which weapons were involved in each year since 2012.

Damian Hinds: Information on the total number of incidents in prisons in which weapons were involved for all types of incident could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Drugs: Crime

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of increasing jail terms for repeat drug offenders.

Damian Hinds: The law provides a robust framework of drug offences to address a variety of behaviours. The most serious of these carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Sentencing is entirely a matter for our independent courts, in line with any relevant sentencing guidelines – issued by the independent Sentencing Council. The Council issued revised guidelines for drug offences in 2021. In England and Wales, when deciding what sentence to impose the courts take into account the circumstances of the offence, the offender and any aggravating and mitigating factors which might lead to an increase or decrease in sentence. The law states that where there is a relevant previous conviction the court must consider this to be an aggravating factor when sentencing. In recognition of the seriousness of drug offences, the law provides for a minimum custodial sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment following a third conviction for a Class A drug trafficking offence in England and Wales. Measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 strengthened existing legislation to ensure that the courts always impose at least the minimum term unless there are exceptional circumstances which justify not doing so.

Treasury

Deposit Return Schemes: VAT

Geraint Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the VAT rates of deposit return schemes operated in non-UK countries.

Victoria Atkins: The precise operation of the schemes varies from country to country.HMRC and HMT have contacted a number of other countries regarding their drink deposit return schemes. All of these countries operate their deposit return scheme differently and as such there is a variety of approaches in how they go about accounting for VAT on their schemes. Some countries charge VAT on the deposit at the same rate as the drink itself and others treat the deposit as outside the scope of VAT.

UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the impact of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the economy.

Victoria Atkins: The Trade and Cooperation Agreement is the world’s biggest zero-tariff, zero-quota trade deal. This provides a strong base for UK businesses to trade with the EU. The Government is continuing to support businesses trading with the EU, as well as helping them seize new opportunities with fast-growing economies around the world through our Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

VAT: Northern Ireland

Ian Paisley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that traders in Northern Ireland do not pay double VAT on goods purchased in the UK.

Victoria Atkins: For the majority of businesses trading with and in Northern Ireland, VAT continues to be accounted for in much the same way as when trading with the rest of the UK.The government is confident that its implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol for VAT mitigates the risk of double taxation in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is, and will remain, part of the UK’s VAT system.

Treasury: Brexit

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's departure from the EU on their ability to deliver successful policy outcomes.

Victoria Atkins: Leaving the EU has provided us with the opportunity to think boldly about how we regulate to achieve objectives such as strengthening our economy. As an independent trading nation, the UK has the opportunity to shape a new trading relationship with the rest of the world. Since leaving the EU, the Government has secured free trade agreements with 71 countries.

Duty Free Allowances

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing duty free shopping on arrival at ports in Great Britain.

James Cartlidge: Duty-free on arrival would place additional pressure on the public finances to which excise duty makes a significant contribution. Any loss in tax revenue would have to be balanced by a reduction in public spending, increased borrowing or increased taxation elsewhere. Although there are no plans to introduce such a scheme, the Government keeps all taxes under review.

North Sea Oil: Capital Allowances

Bill Esterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Investment Allowance on the investment commitments made by industry in the North Sea Transition Deal.

James Cartlidge: The North Sea Transition Deal is a transformative partnership between the UK Government and the UK’s offshore oil and gas sector. It will harness the power of the UK offshore oil and gas industry to deliver net-zero by 2050, and in the process, could unlock up to £16bn in investment, secure up to 40,000 energy jobs, reduce emissions by up to 60mn metric tons and deliver new business and trade opportunities to support our transition to a low carbon future. The recently introduced Energy Profits Levy includes an Investment Allowance. Government has published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on the Energy Profits Levy changes announced at the Autumn Statement. This is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-energy-oil-and-gas-profits-levy/energy-oil-and-gas-profits-levy. The TIIN sets out that the levy is not expected to have a significant macroeconomic impact on the level of business investment.

Inflation

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the level of inflation in (a) the UK and (b) other comparable countries; and if he will make a statement.

James Cartlidge: The Office for National Statistics release statistics on UK inflation. These show that the annual rate of CPI inflation was 10.7% in November, down from 11.1% in October.The Office for Budget Responsibility has confirmed global factors are the primary cause of current inflation. Inflation is high here – but higher in Germany (11.3%), the Netherlands (11.2%), and Italy (12.5%).

Weather: Damage

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities of dealing with damage caused by the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather due to climate change.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to provide a support package for local authorities to be able to adapt and protect communities against the impacts of climate change.

John Glen: Local authorities have a crucial role to play in managing climate impacts at the local level. The upcoming National Adaptation Programme due next year will respond to the 61 risks and opportunities set out in the Climate Change Risk Assessment earlier this year. The Programme will set out the work local authorities are doing and planning to adapt to climate impacts. The 2023-24 Local Government Finance Settlement provides an increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities of around 9%, making available almost £5 billion in additional funding, demonstrating how Government stands behind councils up and down the country. As democratically elected organisations, local authorities are responsible for managing their budgets and making spending decisions that reflect their priorities. The Government continues to work closely with the sector to understand the pressures local authorities are facing across their services, including those regarding climate change. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for stewardship of the local government system and is committed to ensuring that funding allocations for councils are based on an up-to-date assessment of their needs and resources.

Public Sector: Industrial Disputes

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to help resolve public sector pay disputes.

John Glen: We value the vital work that public sector workers do. We want pay deals that are fair for public sector workers and affordable for the taxpayer. That’s why Government has accepted the pay recommendations of the independent Pay Review Bodies for the NHS, teachers, and other front line workforces for 2022/23. These are the highest uplifts in nearly twenty years, reflecting the vital contributions public sector workers make to our country and the cost-of-living pressures facing households. Many awards were targeted towards the low paid, for example the lowest paid NHS workers received 9.3%. Departments are closely monitoring the strike risk across their workforces and are carefully considering ways to mitigate the potential impact of industrial action.

Financial Services

Mark Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support the financial services sector.

John Glen: The Edinburgh Reforms, launched by the Chancellor on 9 December, take forward the government’s ambition for an open, sustainable, and technologically advanced financial services sector that is globally competitive and acts in the interests of communities and citizens across all four nations of the UK. These reforms build on the work the government is already taking forward through the Financial Services and Markets Bill and the reforms to Solvency II announced at the Autumn Statement.

VAT

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much VAT was collected by his Department in (a) October and (b) November in each of the last four years.

Victoria Atkins: VAT receipts data can be found in the publication HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK, in column J of the statistics table. An extract is provided below showing VAT receipts for October and November since 2018. November 2022 VAT receipts are scheduled to be released in the above publication on 21 December 2022. VAT Receipts (£millions)20182019202020212022October13,16013,56913,44317,12216,853November12,03313,03112,21915,083

Mortgages: Interest Rates

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to assist mortgage-holders on variable rates, whose mortgages have increased significantly since the September 2022 Growth Plan by requiring lenders to (a) extend the repayment term and (b) reverse such increases made following the announcement of that Plan.

John Glen: The pricing and availability of loans is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, HM Treasury is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their mortgage business to understand their position and current lending conditions, including most recently at a roundtable hosted by the Chancellor. At this roundtable, the Chancellor made clear that he expects every lender to live up to their responsibilities and support any mortgage borrowers who are finding it tough right now. It is important to note that around 75% of residential mortgage borrowers are on fixed-rate deals and therefore shielded from interest rate rises in the near term. If mortgage borrowers do fall into financial difficulty, FCA guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options, which can include a term extension if that is deemed to be within the borrower’s best interests. The Government has also taken a number of measures aimed at helping people to avoid repossession, including offering Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans for those in receipt of an income-related benefit. It was announced at Autumn Statement that, from spring 2023, the Government will allow those on Universal Credit to apply for an SMI loan to help with interest repayments after three months, instead of nine. We will also abolish the zero earnings rule to allow claimants to continue receiving support while in work and on Universal Credit. In addition, the Government offers mortgage borrowers protection in the courts through the Pre-Action Protocol, which makes clear that repossession must always be the last resort for lenders. More broadly, the Government has taken decisive action to support households across the UK through the cost-of-living challenges ahead, whilst remaining fiscally responsible. In addition to the £37 billion of support for the cost of living already announced for 2022-23, the Government has announced further support for next year designed to target the most vulnerable households. This cost-of-living support is worth £26 billion in 2023-24, in addition to benefits uprating, which is worth £11 billion to working age households and people with disabilities. The Government is also continuing to provide support to all households through the Energy Price Guarantee, which will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Afghanistan: Refugees

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 46 on page 15 of the International Development Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2021-22 entitled Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the Afghan people, published on 1 March 2022, in which the Committee welcomed the establishment in October 2021 of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit (JACU), if he will make an assessment of the performance of JACU in meeting its objective to take forward the UK’s commitment to resettle individuals and family member who are confirmed to be eligible for resettlement to the UK under the terms of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS); how many cases relating to Afghan aid workers the JACU (a) has taken receipt of and (b) is actively working on; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many officials of (a) his Department, (b) the Ministry of Defence and (c) the Home Office were (i) permanently and (ii) temporarily assigned to work for the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit as of 1 December 2022.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what costs have accrued to his Department for the operation of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit in each month of the 2022-23 financial year; how much and what proportion of those costs have been attributed to the official development assistance budget; and how many Afghan people have been resettled in the UK as a result of the work of that Unit in that time period.

Leo Docherty: The Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit (JACU) was established during Operation PITTING and has effectively co-ordinated case-working on the Afghan resettlement schemes across the Home Office, Ministry of Defence and FCDO, and helped to support eligible individuals overseas.We do not collect comprehensive data on the profession or minority status of those relocated. Since April 2021, over 22,800 people have been brought to safety from Afghanistan, including over 1,000 people who were campaigners for women's rights, human rights defenders, Chevening scholars, journalists, judges and members of the LGBT+ community.The FCDO has around 30 staff working on Afghan relocation and resettlement. This includes a dedicated team working on Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) Pathway 3 referrals. We do not hold information on staffing at the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence.Worldwide operating costs incurred by the FCDO on Afghan relocation from 1 April to 31 October 2022 were £11,287,856. These costs were not attributed as Official Development Assistance.Please refer to the published data on arrivals: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what their Department spent in 2021 on purchasing goods and services with a value of less than £500 on a government procurement card.

David Rutley: The FCDO spent £10,929,670.05 in 2021 on goods and services with a value less than £500 using Government Procurement Cards.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Mandarin Language

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of employees in his Department who speak Mandarin.

David Rutley: The FCDO only holds figures for staff who have completed FCDO-certified training at C1/C2 levels: this does not include our Country-Based Staff, many of whom are multilingual. 64 members of staff currently have valid exam passes in Mandarin at C1, including 23 at C2. Exam passes are valid for five years.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Russian Language and Ukrainian Language

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many officials in his Department speak (a) Russian and (b) Ukrainian.

David Rutley: The FCDO only holds figures for staff who have completed FCDO-certified training at C1/C2 levels: this does not include our Country-Based Staff, many of whom are multilingual. 55 members of staff currently have valid exam passes in Russian at C1, including 10 at C2. Seven members of staff have a valid C1 exam pass in Ukrainian. Exam passes are valid for five years.

Dominic Raab

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of to Question 98894, whether his Department holds any records of any further formal complaints being made about the conduct of the Rt. Hon. Member for Esher and Walton since 22 November 2023.

David Rutley: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 29 November to Question 88787.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to issue a substantive written response to the correspondence of 9 November 2022 from the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, reference MC2022/29111.

David Rutley: We are grateful to the honourable Member for bringing this matter to our attention. The Minister for Europe will issue a response to the honourable Member in due course and regrets the delay in responding to this.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, by what date they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day to day operations.

David Rutley: The Government is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2050.Central Government reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent in 2019-20 compared to a 2009-10 baseline, exceeding its target of 43 per cent.The Greening Government Commitments set out the actions that UK Government departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment, including targets for departmental reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with current targets for the period 2021-25. The Department is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible and has ambitious targets under the Greening Government Commitments.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Ministerial Boxes

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many red ministerial (a) despatch boxes and (b) folders his Department has purchased from Barrow, Hepburn &amp; Gale since 1 September 2021.

David Rutley: The FCDO purchased 5 ministerial boxes and 13 ministerial folders from Barrow & Gale between January 2021 and November 2022.

Africa: China

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the amount of Chinese state financial aid administered to African countries in the last decade.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: China does not publish comprehensive data on its development finance to other countries. A white paper on "China's International Development Cooperation in the New Era" (https://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/202101/10/content_WS5ffa6bbbc6d0f72576943922.html), published by the Chinese Government in January 2021, provides some information about China's foreign assistance between 2013 to 2018. A number of research institutions also compile information on Chinese development finance and other aid, including AidData (https://www.aiddata.org/data/aiddatas-global-chinese-development-finance-dataset-version-2-0) and the China-Africa Research Initiative (http://www.sais-cari.org/).

Myanmar: Fuels

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the UK P&amp;I Club on their role in providing insurance for vessels delivering aviation fuel to Myanmar.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: On 28 February 2022, the UK updated its Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain due diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the Myanmar military.We maintain regular contact with insurance providers to understand the market and update them on policy announcements. We have not had any meetings with the UK P&I Club on Myanmar.

Qatar: Foreign Relations

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Qatari counterpart on (a) the deaths of migrant workers building the World Cup stadia, (b) LGBTQ+ freedoms in Qatar and (c) freedom of religion and belief in Qatar for people of all faiths; and if he will make a statement.

David Rutley: We welcome the steps Qatar has taken on workers' rights. The priority is now full implementation and enforcement of those reforms. The UK Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy visited Doha on 9 October to discuss how the UK can partner with Qatar and the International Labour Organisation to support progress. The Foreign Secretary raised LGBT+ concerns ahead of and during his recent visit to Qatar. We welcome Qatar's establishment of the Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue which hosts an annual interfaith dialogue. We will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights including LGBT+ and the freedom of religion or belief for all.

Emergency Travel Documents: Applications

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's objectives are for the timeframe in which to accept, investigate and come to a final adjudication on Emergency Travel Document applications.

David Rutley: For British nationals who have held a full validity British passport within the past 10 years we aim to process Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), ready for collection two working days after the application is made. Applications may take longer during periods of high demand, where the fee and appropriate documents have not been submitted, where the application is for a child under 16 or where an interview is required.For those who have not previously held a British passport, or where their British passport expired more than 10 years ago, they should normally apply to HM Passport Office for a full validity passport. Applications for ETDs will only be considered under exceptional circumstances and due to their complexity, there is no set time frame for applications to be completed.

Israel: Palestinians

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions his Israeli counterpart on the withdrawal of residency rights from (a) Salah Hammouri and (b) other Palestinians living in Jerusalem.

David Rutley: We have called upon the Government of Israel to fully respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of human rights defenders and organisations and to allow them to freely operate in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories. A final determination of the status of Jerusalem should be sought as part of a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. It must ensure Jerusalem is a shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states, with access and religious rights of both peoples respected.

Middle East: Fenethylline

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of illegal smuggling of Captagon (fenethylline) in the Levant.

David Rutley: The production and smuggling of captagon in the Levant is worth upwards of $USD 5.7billion. The Syrian regime bears particular responsibility. There are at least 15 large-scale production sites in regime-held areas of Syria, and smaller factories line the Syria/Lebanon border. Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia face extensive security and health threats due to captagon. Smuggling efforts are becoming more technologically advanced and more violent, with increasing clashes along the Jordanian border. Beyond the region, Italy seized 84 million pills in 2020. The UK is assisting regional partners to combat this trade, which directly profits Asad and his backers, including Hezbollah.

Qatar: LGBT+ People

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to promote LGBTQ+ rights during the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

David Rutley: Ministers and senior officials have raised the issues of LGBT+ visitors to the World Cup with the Qatari authorities at all levels in order to encourage equal treatment, the respect of individual rights and to identify what action the Qatari authorities were taking to match their commitment to a tournament where "everybody is welcome". The Foreign Secretary and Lord Ahmad discussed LGBT+ rights with the Qatari authorities during their visits to Qatar on 19 November and 10 December respectively.

Myanmar: Fuels

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his US counterpart on the role of Chevron and ExxonMobil in supplying aviation fuel to Myanmar.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: On 28 February 2022, the UK updated its Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain due diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the Myanmar military. We are engaging regularly with partners, including the US, to ensure a coordinated international effort to prevent the flow of weapons, equipment and aviation fuel to Myanmar. FCDO officials have had in depth discussions with US counterparts about the role Western businesses play in the aviation fuel supply chain.

Myanmar: Armed Conflict

Alyn Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help reduce the ability of the Myanmar military to carry out airstrikes.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We remain very concerned by the horrific tactics used by the Myanmar military, including indiscriminate airstrikes against civilians. The UK frequently raises these issues in international statements, including at the UN Security Council (UNSC) and UN Human Rights Council.On 28 February 2022, the UK updated its Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain due diligence to ensure that commodities, such as aviation fuel, do not reach the Myanmar military. The UK is also using targeted sanctions against those who provide weapons and parts to the Myanmar Air Force.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication of government procurement card spending over £500 for March 2022, what was the (a) nature and (b) purpose of the VIP services for which Heathrow Airport was paid £10,440.00 on 23-24 March 2022.

David Rutley: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) arranged with Heathrow VIP, four (4) arrival and departure VIP Suite facilitation movements for foreign dignitaries visiting the United Kingdom at the invitation of His Majesty's Government, at the cost of £7,200.00 and one (1) movement for the former Foreign Secretary, at the cost of £3,240. VIP Suites are booked to provide swift and secure airport arrival and departure arrangements for visiting foreign dignitaries. We are committed to using public money responsibly and receive a reduced rate for these services.

Cuba: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to work with the international community to address the impact of Hurricane Ian on (a) housing, (b) access to drinking water, (c) access to electricity, (d) health institutions, (e) educational institutions and (f) crops and agriculture in Cuba.

David Rutley: Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in September 2022, the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $7.8 million of funding to provide life-saving support to Cuba. The UK was one of the largest donors to CERF in 2022, contributing £52 million. The CERF response in Cuba is helping more than 500 thousand people in the areas of food security, health, water and sanitation, shelter and education.

Russia: LGBT+ People

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to engage with Russian LGBTQ+ (a) activists and (b) civil society, in the context of the new law banning LGBT propaganda among adults in that country.

Leo Docherty: Gender Equality (encompassing LGBT+ rights) is a priority for the FCDO, including in Russia. Despite the challenging environment, we will continue to support LGBT+ activists and other civil society groups working on gender-related issues. Russia's updated anti-"propaganda" law aims to create a climate of fear and restrict the freedoms of all Russians. As a member of the Equal Rights Coalition, the UK has worked with international partners to make clear to Russia that we all stand with all LGBT+ people in Russia following these amendments.

Developing Countries: Malaria

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the World Malaria Report 2022 published by the WHO on 8 December, what steps he is taking to support the eradication of malaria.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The World Malaria Report 2022 reported that numbers of malaria cases and deaths remained broadly stable in 2021 following an increase in 2020, with 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths. On the 12th December I (Minister Mitchell) gave the keynote speech at the UK Launch of the World Malaria Report. The UK supports the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 target to end the epidemic of malaria by 2030. Tackling malaria is also closely linked with the UK's ambition to end the preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children given it predominantly impacts pregnant women and children under 5. The UK has pledged £1 billion to the Global Fund's seventh replenishment (2023-2025) which will help save over 1 million lives and avert over 28 million new infections. In addition to this the UK also supports research and development into new tools to address malaria and provides bilateral support to malaria endemic countries to strengthen their health systems.

Somalia: Sexual Offences

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk of sexual violence in the current military offensive in Somalia by (a) al-Shabaab, (b) clan militias and (c) Somali security forces.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Women and girls in Somalia face very high levels of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), exacerbated by decades of conflict, instability and drought. UK support, alongside other international partners, aims to improve the protection of survivors through a comprehensive response to sexual and gender-based violence that includes referral for justice. The UK aims to promote the voices of women and girls and support them to participate in dialogue on security issues. Gender and human rights awareness is a central part of any training the UK provides to the Somalia Security Forces.

South Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) risks posed to the civilian population by intercommunal violence in Kodok and (b) adequacy of resources available to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in that town; and what recent discussions he has had with partners on events in that area.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We have received credible reports from partners in Upper Nile State of hundreds of civilians killed, tens of thousands displaced homes and livelihoods destroyed and sexual and gender-based violence being perpetrated. The UK Government is working with the United Nations, African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, our Troika partners (US, Norway), the EU and others to publicly press and privately lobby the South Sudanese Government to end the violence and protect civilians. The UK also supports the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, which has a presence in Kodok and is providing protection to civilians there. The UK Ambassador to South Sudan has met with senior UNMISS officials and received assurances on adequate levels of resourcing in Upper Nile State.

Burkina Faso: Private Military and Security Companies

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential risk that Russian private military companies will be used to provide security at gold mining sites in Burkina Faso; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of private military companies for this purpose on (a) corruption, (b) human rights, (c) democracy and (d) security in Burkina Faso.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government is monitoring reports of an agreement between Wagner Group and Burkina Faso, as well as Wagner's wider activities in Africa and regularly raise the risks of Wagner deployments with regional Heads of State. Wagner are directly connected to the Russian state, and are active in Ukraine, Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic. They are having a destabilising impact and are responsible for human rights abuses. We are working closely with international partners to counter the malign use of such proxies by Russia. We have designated the Wagner Group, and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, under the Russia Sanctions Regime.

UK Trade with EU: Veterinary Services

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterpart on the development of a bespoke UK-EU Veterinary Agreement.

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the EU on an extension of the grace period for the flow of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland.

Leo Docherty: The Government is engaging in talks with the EU to address the issues of the Northern Ireland Protocol including on the movement of goods of plant and animal origin. The Foreign Secretary met Vice President Sefcovic last week and technical talks continue.

Africa: Migration

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level and flows of migration on the African continent.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government relies on international data on African migration flows. The United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM) World Migration Report 2022 revealed that Africans living in another African country increased from 18 million in 2015 to 21 million in 2020. South Africa settled the most African emigrants (2.9 million), though final destinations are spread widely across Africa. In 2020, East Africa, The Horn and The Great Lakes were the origin of most refugees (5 million). 2 million people were internally displaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1.6 million in Ethiopia and 1.9 million in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Iran: Children

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that all children detained in Iran are released.

David Rutley: The UK is committed to holding Iran to account for the appalling treatment of children throughout the brutal crackdown of protests. The UK highlighted this issue at the UN Human Right Council on 24 November, at which we supported a successful Resolution to establish a UN investigation into the human rights violations committed by the regime during the protests. The Foreign Secretary also called out Iran's treatment of children alongside his G7 partners at the meeting of Foreign Ministers on 4 November. The UK will continue work with partners at international fora to call on the Iranian authorities to abide by their obligations under international law and to improve the practices surrounding children in detention.

Iran: Children

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the Government is undertaking (a) within in the UN Security Council and (b) bilaterally to help (i) halt human right abuses against children in Iran and (ii) hold perpetrators accountable.

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart to stop all human rights violations against children.

David Rutley: The UK is committed to holding Iran to account for the appalling treatment of children throughout the brutal crackdown of protests. The UK highlighted this issue at the UN Human Right Council on 24 November, at which we supported a successful Resolution to establish a UN investigation into the human rights violations committed by the regime during the protests. The Foreign Secretary also called out Iran's treatment of children alongside his G7 partners at the meeting of Foreign Ministers on 4 November. The UK will continue work with partners at international fora to call on the Iranian authorities to abide by their obligations under international law and to improve the practices surrounding children in detention.

Ministry of Defence

Australia and USA: Guided Weapons

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the cooperation between the UK, US and Australia on anti-hypersonic weaponry on future weapons cooperation between these countries.

James Heappey: The Ministry of Defence invests significant resources in international capability strategy with allies, including assessing the impact of capability cooperation. In December, AUKUS partners approved plans to pursue additional demonstrations of several collaborative initiatives-including hypersonic and autonomous systems-in the 2023-2024 timeframe and beyond.

Kuwait: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel Kuwait has stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: There are currently five Kuwaiti military personnel stationed in the UK, for liaison and engagement purposes. In addition, the UK works closely with all our international partners including Kuwait to support short-term training courses.

Oman: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel Oman has stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: There are currently three Omani military personnel stationed in the UK, for liaison and engagement purposes. In addition, the UK works closely with all our international partners including Oman to support short-term training courses.

Qatar: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel Qatar has stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: There are currently three Qatari military personnel stationed in the UK, for liaison and engagement purposes. In addition, the UK works closely with all our international partners including Qatar to support short-term training courses.

United Arab Emirates: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel the United Arab Emirates have stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: There is currently one member of military personnel from the United Arab Emirates stationed in the UK, for liaison and engagement purposes. In addition, the UK works closely with all our international partners including the United Arab Emirates to support short-term training courses.

Saudi Arabia: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel Saudi Arabia has stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: There are currently nine Saudi military personnel stationed in the UK, for liaison and engagement purposes. In addition, the UK works closely with all our international partners including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support short-term training courses.

Somalia: Military Aid

Alyn Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Somalia National Army soldiers were trained in the UK in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.

James Heappey: One member of the Somali Armed Forces underwent Human Rights training in the UK in 2018. The main focus of our training for the SNA has been in Somalia. Between 2017 and early 2023, we will have trained over 2700 Somali personnel.

Kenya: Army

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any elephants broke out from the Lolldaiga Conservancy during Exercise Askari Storm in Kenya in November 2022.

James Heappey: The only wildlife in Kenya whose movements are restricted are rhinoceros, which are kept to easily protected areas to defend them from poachers. Elephants and all other wildlife are free to move around the countryside, which they generally do along movement corridors established by the animals themselves over time. Some elephant fences have been erected by local landowners and communal groups to protect specific buildings and crops, for example, but elephants are able to move in and out of Lolldaiga, which is a privately owned ranch, at will.BATUK monitors wildlife in the immediate vicinity of training for safety reasons but does not track the movement of animals in and out of training areas.

Armed Forces: Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average response time is for maintenance requests for military homes by repair staff from (a) Amey and (b) VIVO.

Alex Chalk: The average reported response time for maintenance requests for military homes by repair staff from Amey and VIVO during November 2022 can be found in the table below:  Response TimesVIVOAmeyEmergency3-4 hrs4-4.5hrsUrgent98 hrs97hrsRoutine11.5 days17.7 days

Air Force: Alternative Fuels

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost differential of powering RAF flights by sustainable fuel compared with traditional fuel.

Alex Chalk: While the RAF conducted a test flight on 15 November 2022 using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel, we have made no estimate of the cost differential for all RAF flights to use such fuel as it is not available at scale and is not yet manufactured in industrial quantities.

Armed Forces: Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many investigations of (a) damp and (b) mould issues in (i) Service Family and (ii) Single Living Accommodation have been investigated by a professional surveyor since January 2022.

Alex Chalk: Since April 2022, 225 investigations of damp and mould have been carried out by a professional surveyor on behalf of VIVO, who operate the Regional Accommodation Maintenance Service (RAMS) Contract in the Southwest and Southeast of the UK in respect of approximately 28,600 residential properties. 114 resulted in the issue of a full damp and mould survey report.Amey, who operate the RAMS Contract for the Northern and Central regions of the UK, do not record the information in the format requested. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.The Ministry of Defence has a robust damp and mould management policy for Service Family Accommodation. In early 2022, it was directed that no properties with reported issues should be allocated. If a damp or mould problem cannot be resolved quickly, if it is particularly severe or if a family member has a known vulnerability, families should be offered alternative accommodation.The information is not held centrally for Single Living Accommodation and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Royal Military Academy: Repairs and Maintenance

James Sunderland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to service families accommodation at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst without heating, what steps he is taking to improve the maintenance contract at that academy.

Alex Chalk: The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) have directed the Future Defence Infrastructure Services, accommodation suppliers in the South East region (Pinnacle and VIVO) to provide Rectification Plans, as performance has been significantly below acceptable levels.DIO Officials are working with Vivo and Pinnacle to accelerate responses to the heating outages for families at the Royal Military Academy. Families will be contacted by a qualified engineer to support the swift diagnosis of faults and to enable remote fixes, if possible, and VIVO are increasing the number of engineers available to undertake urgent works.

Military Bases: Finance

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of Head Office's contingency budget he plans to spend on uplifting the defence estate.

Alex Chalk: The department does not regularly provide forecast funding figures.However, where reprioritisation of funding at the TLB level is not possible without affecting Defence outputs, we will review options for reprioritising spending, including by allocating from our contingency if required.

Army: Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department will conclude reviewing the Land Fleet Requirement.

Alex Chalk: A review into the Land Fleet Requirements has now been completed by the Department, to ensure they reflect the Future Soldier structure. These reviews are routine activity, conducted in line with relevant changes to Defence Strategic Direction.

Ministry of Defence: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day to day operations.

Alex Chalk: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to reducing its carbon emissions and fully contributing to the UK achieving its legal commitment to be Net Zero by 2050. Indeed, MOD has halved its estate related carbon emissions since 2010 and we continue to drive our broader direct emissions down. The response across Defence and our suppliers is beginning to drive real change in decarbonisation from our bases and barracks, innovation on future fuels through to increasing sequestration opportunities on our rural estate. Throughout we will ensure that we will preserve our capability levels to allow us to deliver our operational commitments ensuring the UK's security. The Department's current progress on reducing emissions has been published in Annex D of MOD's Annual Report and Accounts Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (publishing.service.gov.uk).

Type 32 Frigates

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Navy Command remains committed to the concept of a Type 32 Frigate.

Alex Chalk: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2022 to Question 102767.Type 32 Frigates: Procurement (docx, 16.4KB)

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Equipment Plan 2022-2032 published on 29 November, what his Department's worst-case projection for the pound/dollar exchange rate is.

Alex Chalk: We do not routinely release forecast figures regarding exchange rate movements for the current or future financial years.The focus of the EP22 is to produce a reliable assessment of affordability of the Department's equipment programme. We remain confident in the resilience of our spending decisions, as well as our levels of contingency and risk, despite now living in a more volatile environment.

Defence: Finance

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has any plans to reduce the current levels of autonomy for Top Level Budgets.

Alex Chalk: The underlying principles of the Defence Operating Model are still in place and outline that the Top Level Budgets (including the Commands and Enabling Organisations) remain responsible for managing their centrally-allocated funds and delivering their contribution to the Defence Plan.

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the NAO report on the Equipment Plan 2022-2032, published on 29 November, HC 907, which programmes he anticipates will be delivered more slowly than previously planned due to budget pressures.

Alex Chalk: The Department's programmes are under continuous review to ensure that they deliver to time, budget, and quality. The Department proactively releases programme performance and delivery assessment information in the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP).

Ministry of Defence: ICT

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what services are being provided through each contract procured by his Department for its digital transformation programme.

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value is of each service contract his Department has procured from businesses to deliver its digital transformation programme.

Alex Chalk: The Ministry of Defence is delivering Digital Transformation through five key themes as set out in the Digital Strategy for Defence, published in April 2021. The five themes are: People, Process, Data, Technology, and Cyber. Transformation activity is increasingly intrinsic to the entire Digital spend of the department to maximise impact and pace and it would be difficult to itemise specific Transformation contributions from the whole portfolio. Within the core Transformation Team and the key themes, we have placed contracts for the following services:AreaDescription of ServicesPrincipal SuppliersTotal 2022-23 Forecast (£million)*Core Central TeamSupport to our overall cohesion and governance of the Digital Transformation programme.- i3Works.0.9PeopleServices to provide training and wider skills development.- PA Consulting; - Kornferry; - Turner & Townsend.13.3ProcessTo establish a transparent pan-Defence digital portfolio, establish common architectural standards and design services, support enterprise-wide IT operations, establish Digital Category management, and implement and assure digital controls.- La Fosse; - Turner & Townsend; - VIMA; - KPMG; - Capita; - BMT Defence and Security UK; - Tisski; - Net Consulting.16.1Data & TechnologyTo support the development of our strategic use of Data, core technology areas including Digital Foundry, a multi-class hyperscale cloud, and a next generation resilient network with associated technical support.- Accenture; - Amazon Web Services (SoftwareOne); - KPMG; - Microsoft; - Microsoft (Boxxe); - Inform Ltd; - Atos; - PA Consulting; - Cognizant UK; - Capgemini; - Actica Consulting; - Digi2al; - Improbable; - Informatica; - Global Resourcing; - Palantir.132.4CyberSupport to improve our Cyber defence, cohesion, and integrated planning.- Qinetiq; - Logiq Consulting; - Boxxe; - CGI IT UK; - CDW; - Leonardo UK; - Vysiion; - Garrison Technology; - Rohde & Schwarz UK; - Kaze Digital & Data.127.5 *All figures provided are inclusive of non-recoverable VAT. The table above lists the principal suppliers for each of our core strategic themes. There are other, lower value contracts with suppliers that are included in the total value but have not been listed above. Excluding Cyber, there are 48 contracts associated with supporting Transformation. Within the entirety of the Cyber portfolio, there are 69 contracts which cover Defensive Cyber and Operations and Cyber Resilience.

Armed Forces: Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many calls related to (a) damp and (b) mould issues in Forces accommodation have been received by the National Service Centre since January 2022.

Alex Chalk: The National Service Centre came into service in April 2022 and since that date has taken 2,684 calls relating to damp and mould issues.The Ministry of Defence has a robust damp and mould management policy for Service Family Accommodation. In early 2022, it was directed that no properties with reported issues should be allocated. If a damp or mould problem cannot be resolved quickly, if it is particularly severe or if a family member has a known vulnerability, families should be offered alternative accommodation.

Armed Forces: Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Service Family and (b) Single Living Accommodation properties have not been allocated by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation because of damp or mould issues since early 2020.

Alex Chalk: The below table shows how many Service Family properties were not allocated by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation due to damp and mould issues: Month202020212022Jan397294Feb538694Mar608893Apr639393May7193101Jun789699Jul819595Aug7910396Sep67105109Oct71104141Nov6894155Dec7191154Totals8011,1201,324The Ministry of Defence has a robust damp and mould management policy for Service Family Accommodation. In early 2022, it was directed that no properties with reported issues should be allocated. If a damp or mould problem cannot be resolved quickly, if it is particularly severe or if a family member has a known vulnerability, families should be offered alternative accommodation. Information on allocating Single Living Accommodation is not held centrally.

Military Aircraft: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the tweet by his Procurement Adviser on 9 December, in which areas in the combat air sector he considers that the UK has weak industrial capabilities.

Alex Chalk: On 9 December 2022, the UK, Japan and Italy announced the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a trilateral partnership to develop a next generation fighter jet. The UK, Japan and Italy all have strong combat air industrial capabilities, which complement each other and enable the synergies needed to deliver the programme at pace. Industry partners from these three advanced industrial nations will play an important part in the programme, working together to develop the capability. This partnership allows us to harness the strong industrial bases of each country in the co-development of advanced technologies, to deliver cutting-edge military capabilities and share the cost of development as we further modernise the already strong industrial base in each country.The UK defence industry is already leading the world in advanced aerospace engineering, as demonstrated by our core role in the development of Typhoon, our participation in F35 and our success in the defence exports market. The Defence Command Paper noted that UK combat air industry employs 18,000 people, with tens of thousands more in the supply chain. There are now over 2,500 people employed in this new programme, and the number continues to grow. Since the launch of the Concept and Assessment Phase in 2021, we have done substantial work defining and designing the system and are working on a range of technology areas, including the development a joint engine demonstrator and advanced sensors. Within the UK, the programme is a key avenue for public and private investment in Research and Development in the combat air industrial sector. Ministry of Defence has already invested over £1 billion, with hundreds of millions more from private industry, developing advanced industrial capabilities and keeping the UK combat air sector at the cutting edge internationally.

Iran and Russia: Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has made an estimate as to the dates on which Iran supplied Russia with kamikaze drones.

James Heappey: Open-Source reporting indicates that Iran commenced the delivery of its one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles to Russia on 19 August 2022.

Israel: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel Israel has stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: There are currently five Israeli military personnel stationed in the UK.

Egypt: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel Egypt has stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: There are currently 15 Egyptian military personnel stationed in the UK.

Turkey: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel Turkey has stationed in the UK.

James Heappey: The Republic of Turkey has 51 troops stationed in the UK.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many migrants have been intercepted by the crew transfer vessels (a) Hurricane and (b) Typhoon while crossing the English Channel in small boats; and how many of those migrants were subsequently (i) brought to the UK and (ii) returned to France.

James Heappey: The Ministry of Defence does not hold a record of which of the crew transfer vessels are involved in the recovery of individual small boat migrants. All migrants intercepted by crew transfer vessels are brought to the UK. The total number of migrants who have crossed the English channel this year is 44,763.

Ukraine: Armed Conflict

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel are assigned to the Russia and Ukraine Insights Hub.

James Heappey: As of 15 December 2022, eight Ministry of Defence personnel are assigned to the Russia-Ukraine Insights Hub, which was established as a team within the Directorate of Joint Warfare. The role of the Russia-Ukraine Insights Hub is to collect and analyse observations and insights relating from the conflict to inform UK processes and decision making. Having completed this analysis, the intention is that in 2023 the responsibility will be reabsorbed into the Directorate of Joint Warfare.

Saudi Arabia: Military Alliances

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled UK signs Plan for Defence Cooperation with Saudi Arabia, published on 13 December 2022, what the scope of the agreements contained in that plan are; and whether that plan will be published.

James Heappey: The Plan for Defence Cooperation with Saudi Arabia, signed on 13 December 2022, reflects the strong defence relationship between the UK and KSA, and a shared commitment to peace and stability. The agreements outlined in the Plan seek to strengthen bilateral cooperation to address shared security challenges in the region - including through regular dialogue and consultation, education and training, and the exchange of visits. The Plan will not be published.

Military Aid

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, If he will make it his policy to publish requests for Military Aid to Civilian Authority (MACA) within seven working days of its receipt; and if he will also publish (a) decisions on whether or not his Department has accepted such requests and (b) the number of Armed Forces (i) full time personnel and (ii) reservists committed to an agreed MACA request, within seven working days of the decision being made.

James Heappey: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 November 2022 to question 86646.Military Aid (docx, 16.6KB)

Armed Forces: Holiday Leave

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Armed Forces personnel sold annual leave in the last financial year.

Dr Andrew Murrison: I can confirm that uniformed Armed Forces personnel do not currently have the ability to "sell" annual leave and therefore none have sold leave in the last financial year.

Air Force: Equality

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the RAF diversity statistics.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Diversity statistics for the RAF are published biannually. The latest published statistics are available at the following link: Biannual_Diversity_Statistics_Publication_April22.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) the next edition of the diversity statistics is expected to be published by 31 January 2023.

Department for Work and Pensions

Unemployment

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 November, Official Report column 848, what estimate he has made of when his Department's review of issues holding back workforce participation will be published.

Guy Opperman: The Department is examining workforce participation and economic inactivity. This work is ongoing.

Social Security Benefits: Domestic Abuse

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting people impacted by domestic abuse from (a) the benefit cap and (b) repaying benefit advances.

Guy Opperman: There are no current plans to introduce new exemptions into the benefit cap policy. Households receiving disability benefits and/or entitled to carer benefits are exempt together with households that earn at least £658 a month. Households may also be exempt for a period of nine months where the claimant, their partner or ex-partner has a sustained work history. DWP recognises the pressures and challenges that this group face, which is why we have made Discretionary Housing Payments available to allow LAs to provide financial help with rental costs. In order to facilitate that, DWP has made it clear to LAs that we consider this group to be among those for whom DHPs should be a priority. Universal Credit advances are a claimant’s entitlement paid early, repaid through future payments being automatically reduced. Making Universal Credit advances non-repayable for victims of domestic abuse would mean this cohort of claimants receiving greater entitlement than others, raising equality concerns from other groups of claimants. The Government has taken steps to support all new Universal Credit claimants receiving a new claim advance. In April 2021, the repayment period for new claim advances was doubled to give more flexibility.

Social Security Benefits

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of social security payments in the context of the increase in the costs of living.

Guy Opperman: The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The government’s Energy Price Guarantee, running from October 2022- March 2023, will save a typical British household around £900 this winter, based on what energy price would have been under the current price cap – reducing bills by roughly a third. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. From 10 April 2023 we are uprating State Pension and benefit rates by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions the benefit cap will also be increased by 10.1%. These increases are subject to Parliamentary approval.To ensure stability and certainty for households, the government is providing £26bn in cost of living support for 2023/24. This includes Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable. In 2023/24, households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to a further £900 in Cost of Living Payments. A £300 payment will be made to pensioner households and individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will receive a £150 payment. Also included is the amended Energy Price Guarantee which will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24. For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.

Universal Credit: Students

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing access to Universal Credit support for (a) full time students and (b) partners of full time students during the cost of living crisis.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many meetings he has had with the National Union of Students on access to Universal Credit for (a) full time students and (b) partners of full time students in the last 12 months.

Guy Opperman: No such meetings have taken place and no such assessment has been made.

Department for Work and Pensions: Brexit

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's departure from the EU on their ability to deliver successful policy outcomes.

Guy Opperman: As a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union, the Department established an EU Exit programme team to help successfully implement and deliver policy change. By leaving the European Union the Department was able to deliver on the key manifesto commitment on access to benefits, namely ensuring that EEA citizens arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021 under the new points-based immigration system will have access to benefits on the same terms as non-EEA migrants. In addition, we have been able to implement new social security agreements. As well as being able to deliver successful policy outcomes, we continue to attend and input in to key European Union social security coordination forums, such as the Administrative Commission. We also co-chair the new Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination.

Universal Credit: Homelessness

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of a policy of pausing deductions from Universal Credit for those people (a) at risk of or (b) experiencing homelessness.

Guy Opperman: The Government recognises the importance of supporting claimants to manage their liabilities. The Government has reduced the standard deduction cap from 40 per cent to 25 per cent of the Standard Allowance in recent years. These reductions have helped hundreds of thousands of Universal Credit claimants to retain more of their award. Pausing deductions would result in a build-up of arrears of the range of debts a claimant has and stop vital obligations such as Child Maintenance payments being made at all. The primary aim of deductions in Universal Credit is to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of essential services. We aim to strike the right balance between ensuring those protections are in place and allowing claimants to retain as much of their award as possible for day-to-day needs.

Chronic Illnesses: Government Assistance

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support the Government offers people waiting for appointments for long-term medical problems if they are unable to work due to their condition.

Tom Pursglove: Statutory Sick Pay is both administered and paid entirely by employers at a rate of £99.35 per week. It provides a measure of earnings replacement to employees who are sick and incapable of work. Employers are required to pay it at the legal minimum rate for up to 28 weeks where an employee meets the qualifying conditions. Many employers decide to pay more, and for longer, through Occupational Sick Pay. People whose capability for work is affected because they are disabled or have a health condition, may be eligible for Universal Credit and/or New Style Employment and Support Allowance, subject to satisfying their eligibility conditions. The Work Capability Assessment determines an individual’s capability for work. For people found to have limited capability for work, their Jobcentre work coach uses their discretion to set work-related activity, appropriate to the claimant's circumstances and capability, to help them prepare to start work when they are able. People who have limited capability for work and work-related activity are not required to carry out any work-related activity but can do so if they wish. People who have a long-term health condition or disability may also be eligible for Personal Independence Payment, to help with the extra costs of living they may face.

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of benefits for disabled people, including those who run medical devices from energy supplies.

Tom Pursglove: The Government is providing extensive support to disabled people, and those with a health condition, to help them live independent lives. In 2022/23, we will spend around £66bn on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions in Great Britain, of which over £29bn will be on the extra costs benefits payable in England and Wales. The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, including disabled people, and has taken further, decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs in addition to other cost of living support announced earlier this year, which includes:the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme;a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 to six million people in recognition of the extra costs they face, including with energy costs;up to £650 in Cost of Living Payments for the eight million households in receipt of a means-tested benefit;a one-off payment of £300 through, and as an addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment from November to pensioner households.To ensure ongoing stability and certainty for households, in the Autumn Statement, we announced further support for next year, designed to target the most vulnerable households. This cost of living support is worth £26 billion in 2023-24, in addition to uprating benefits for working age households and disabled people, as well as the basic and new State Pensions by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap will also be increased by 10.1%. Alongside further Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable, including for disabled people, the amended Energy Price Guarantee will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England, this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2022 to Question 63290 on Social Security Benefits: Appeals, how many appeals have been lodged following a decision made under the Risk Review Process; and what proportion of those appeals have (a) lapsed and (b) been overturned by the tribunal as of 14 December 2022.

Tom Pursglove: From 21 January 2022, when we started collating figures, there have been 175 appeals lodged under the Risk Review Process. Of those that have reached an outcome, there are 24 (13.7%) that have lapsed and 23 (13.1%) that have been overturned by the tribunal.

Cost of Living Payments: Disability

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he make an estimate of the number of people who are eligible for the Disability Cost of Living Payment by each qualifying benefit.

Tom Pursglove: The answer to this is subject to a future publication, however we did publish estimates in the impact assessment which can be found here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0013/Social%20Security%20(Additional%20Payments)ImpactAssesment%20.pdf

Work Capability Assessment: Redbridge

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment in (a) Ilford North constituency and (b) the London Borough of Redbridge as of 14 December 2022.

Tom Pursglove: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Cost of Living Payments: Employment and Support Allowance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on the potential merits of extending the Cost of Living Payment to people on contribution-based Employment Support Allowance who were exempt from the 365 day time limit due to being placed on the support group.

Tom Pursglove: There have been no discussions with stakeholders in respect of the 2022/23 Cost of Living Payments for people on contribution-based Employment Support Allowance. The Cost of Living Payment is targeted at low income households who are in receipt of a means-tested income replacement benefit. Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance is a non means tested benefit and therefore does not qualify for the Cost of Living Payment. Low income households may be entitled to Universal Credit and Contribution, based benefits at the same time, and therefore will be entitled to a Cost of Living Payment. We will be bringing forward legislation for the 2023/24 Cost of Living Payments in due course.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Soil: Environment Protection

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of progress towards all soil in England being managed sustainably by 2030, as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan.

Trudy Harrison: 'Healthy soil' is included as one of the 66 indicators in the Outcome Indicator Framework of the 25 Year Environment Plan. These indicators are used to track environmental change that relates to the 10 goals. A Healthy Soil Indicator (E7) is currently being developed and a progress report for the 25 Year Environment Plan was published in July 2022 here.We are developing a range of soil health monitoring measures to create a robust baseline from which we can monitor improvements in soil health considering the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of soil. This is aided by substantial new government investment in the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme, which will yield valuable new data to aid improved understanding of national soil condition.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by what date they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day to day operations.

Trudy Harrison: The Government is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2050. Central Government reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2019-20 compared to a 2009-10 baseline, exceeding its target of 43%. The Greening Government Commitments set out the actions that UK government departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment, including targets for departmental reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with current targets for the period 2021-25. The Department is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible, and has ambitious targets under the Greening Government Commitments.

Soil: Conservation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an estimate of the potential cost of soil degradation to the economy.

Trudy Harrison: The Government is not currently considering conducting any such estimate. An academic paper in 2015 using data from 2010 estimated the quantifiable costs for soil degradation in England and Wales to be between £0.9 bn and £1.4 bn per year (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800915003171). This Government recognises that healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable farming and underpin a range of environmental benefits, as well as production.To that end, we are focusing on soil in two of the first standards that have been rolled out under the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme in 2022 – the Improved Grassland Soils and Arable and Horticultural Soils standards.

Water: Conservation

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of supporting the installation of water saving technology designed to conserve rainwater, make appropriate use of greywater and reduce flooding in (a) new build and (b) existing properties.

Rebecca Pow: In our 2021 written ministerial statement on reducing demand for water we committed to developing a roadmap towards greater water efficiency in new developments and retrofits. As part of this roadmap we are exploring water saving technologies including rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse. In August 2021 the Government announced a review of the implementation of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The review is looking at the benefits and impacts of implementation and the Government will publish the review and decision regarding implementation of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in due course.

Home Office

Asylum: Temporary Accommodation

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether The Stay Club, 16-18 Charcot Road, Colindale, NW9 5WU has been designated as an officially sanctioned asylum hotel.

Robert Jenrick: Due to the continuing unprecedented high volume of small boats arrivals and the historical pressure from COVID-19 on the asylum system it has been necessary to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers. This has only ever a short-term solution, and we are working with our accommodation providers to find appropriate dispersed accommodation across the United Kingdom.We are committed to working closely with communities and stakeholders to ensure asylum seekers that would otherwise be left destitute are housed in safe, secure and suitable accommodation, and that they are treated with dignity while their asylum claim is considered. Against the backdrop of record crossings, all options are being explored to ensure that suitable accommodation is secured as quickly as is necessary.For safeguarding purposes, we do not publicly comment on individual hotels which may or may not be utilised.

Vacancies: Northern Ireland

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of creating a Northern Ireland-specific Shortage Occupation List.

Robert Jenrick: There is already a Northern Ireland Shortage Occupation List (SOL). The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advised that each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have their own SOL in their last review, which the Government accepted. All jobs on the SOL apply to all four parts of the United Kingdom and we encourage the Devolved Administrations to submit evidence to the MAC when they launch their SOL call for evidence.

Asylum: Applications

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were awaiting an initial decision on their asylum application on 13 December 2022.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum applications awaiting a decision can be found in table Asy_D03 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. Please note the data show a snapshot as at the last day of each quarter, rather than the number of asylum applications awaiting a decision over the entire quarter.The latest data relates to as at 30 September 2022. Data as at 31 December 2022 will be published on 23 February 2023. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Asylum: Deportation

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people whose asylum applications have been rejected were deported in the last 12 months.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data on asylum-related returns, are available in table Ret_05 of the ‘Returns summary tables’, where the data are broken down by return type, including enforced returns (of which ‘deportations’ are a subset). The latest data relate to the year ending June 2022.For more information on the definitions of asylum-related returns and deportations please see the ‘about the statistics’ section of the ‘How many people are detained or returned?’ section of the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’.

Asylum: Northern Ireland

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with the Home Office Local Government Chief Executive Group on contingency accommodation for asylum seekers in Northern Ireland.

Robert Jenrick: We engage with local authority chief executives from across the UK via the Home Office Local Authority Chief Executive Group (HOLGCEX) which was established in 2018. It brings together senior representatives from the Home Office, Local Government Association and local authorities with the aim of working in partnership to improve the asylum dispersal process for the people who use this service and the communities in which they reside. We remain committed to achieving a proportionate and equitable distribution across the country.We notify Local Authorities when new contingency accommodation is stood up in any Local Authority area. Additionally, there is a bi-weekly council engagement meeting chaired by The Executive Office, at which councils can raise any issues that they are experiencing. These meetings are regularly attended by representatives hosting contingency accommodation. This meeting would be the main meeting where engagement takes place between Local Authorities and Home Office on contingency accommodation.

Speed Limits: Fines

Duncan Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on the use of (a) dashboard camera, (b) CCTV and (c) helmet camera footage for speeding penalties; and whether a driver subject to a potential speeding penalty should be permitted to review the footage before making the choice about whether to plead guilty or go to court.

Chris Philp: Unless it is unlawful for some other reason, the police can use any equipment they wish to help detect offences. How the police enforce road traffic law, including speeding offences, and the type of equipment they may use is an operational matter for the police.However, equipment used by the police to capture evidence of speeding that can be prosecuted in court is type approved by government. This “Type Approval” process involves equipment being subject to rigorous field and laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their speed measurements and to prevent the possibility of spurious speed measurements being produced. This includes a requirement for primary and secondary speed measurement verification. Secondary legislation also prescribes how the camera will perform the speed measurement.Type approval guarantees that a device is accurate, precise, reliable and consistent so that its evidence can be relied on. Evidence from a type approved device can therefore also reasonably be used to support the offer of a fixed penalty and will be available for use in a prosecution should the fixed penalty offer not be accepted. At this stage no devices described by the member have been submitted for Type Approval.The provision of any dashboard, CCTV and helmet camera footage in respect of a potential speeding offence is an operational matter for the police.

Cybercrime and Fraud

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of (a) fraud and (b) cyber crime were reported to Action Fraud in each of the last five years; and in each of those years what proportion of those incidents resulted in a prosecution.

Tom Tugendhat: The Home Office collects data on the number of fraud and computer misuse cases reported to Action Fraud that have been recorded as crimes by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).Such data is published by the Office for National Statistics on a quarterly basis and the most recently available statistics for the year ending June 2022 can be found, here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesquarterlydatatablesStatistics on the investigative outcomes of those offences referred to the territorial police forces for investigation are published each year by the Home Office. The most recent publication was Crime outcomes in England and Wales 2021 to 2022 and can be found at this link https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2021-to-2022The Home Office does not hold information on cases that result in prosecution but the Ministry of Justice publish statistics on court outcomes by crime type including fraud. The latest statistics can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-june-2022.

Home Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s published procurement card spend over £500 for March 2021, what was purchased from Wildy on 2 and 3 March 2021; and for what purpose were those purchases made.

Chris Philp: This spend relates to the purchase of six legal texts for use by the then Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. These texts were not available through the usual purchasing frameworks.The texts supported work being carried out by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Afghanistan: Refugees

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 5 on page 2 of the Government’s response of to the First Special Report of Session 2022–23 of the International Development Committee entitled Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the Afghan people: Government response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2021–22, published on 18 May 2022, in which the Government stated that it would work with international partners and NGOs to welcome wider groups of Afghans at risk to the UK under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme third pathway in future years, what work she has (a) undertaken and (b) plans to undertake with (i) international partners and (ii) NGOs to offer resettlement in the UK to Afghan aid workers at risk of Taliban reprisals in Afghanistan; what timescale the Government has for completing any such resettlements of Afghan aid workers; and if she will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick: Beyond the first year of Pathway 3, we will work with our international partners and NGOs to welcome wider groups of Afghans at risk.Further information on future years will be made available in due course, however we are currently unable to provide a definitive timescale or specify the cohort eligible under this pathway.

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare of 5 October 2022 and 8 November 2022 on behalf of that Member's constituent,Catherine Kisbey-Green, on passports.

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare dated 17 October 2022 and 14 November 2022 on behalf of that Member's constituentMr George on his wife’s visa application.

Robert Jenrick: MPAM/0440789/22 – the Home Office will provide a response shortly.MPAM/0455246/22 – The Home Office responded to the hon. Member’s correspondence on 13 December 2022.

Visas: Applications

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's objectives are for the timeframe in which to accept, investigate and come to a final adjudication on spousal visas.

Robert Jenrick: An applicant applying for a family visa at entry clearance should get a decision within 24 weeks.Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)An applicant applying in the UK to extend a family visa (spouse or partner on a 5-year route to settlement) should get a decision within 8 weeks.Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)An applicant applying in the UK for settlement should get a decision within 6 months.Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Immigration Controls: Shipping

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of concessions from the immigration rules on the domestic maritime skills base.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office is not responsible for evaluating the labour market and therefore has made no such estimate. The Home Office is clear that all employers should first seek to recruit from the resident labour market rather than using immigration to provide a work force.The Points Based System, including the Skilled Worker route, provides for many occupations in the maritime sectors. The required salary levels for eligible seafaring roles in the UK shipping industries can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-skilled-occupations

UK Visas and Immigration: Standards

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UKVI Visa applications have not been processed within the 3-week service standard since 1 January 2022; what proportion of UKVI Visa applications have not been processed within the 3-week service standard since 1 January 2022; what the average wait time for UKVI Visa applications is; and how many UKVI Visa application cases are outstanding past the 3-week service standard deadline.

Robert Jenrick: Information relating to the processing times of visas can be found at the link below:Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Visas: Families

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of Family Visa applications from outside the UK have not been processed within the 24-week standard processing time since January 1 2022; what is the current average wait time for these visa applications; and how many of these visa applications are currently outstanding past standard processing time deadline.

Robert Jenrick: Numbers and proportions of Family Visa applications from outside the UK not processed within the 24-week standard processing times have not yet been published for this period. They will be published as part of transparency data in due course.Average decision wait times or data on the number or proportion of family visa applications which have taken more than 24 weeks to process, do not form part of any current transparency data and are not published.The transparency data does, however, include a range of processing data and the latest data can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Members: Correspondence

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 2 December 2022 from the hon. Member for Exeter that enclosed a personal letter from his constituent Tony Cox.

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from Mr Cox, a constituent of the hon. Member for Exeter, on his request for two meetings.

Chris Philp: The Home Office responded on 19 December regarding setting up a meeting.

Agriculture: Motor Vehicles

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to amend the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill to include all agricultural vehicles.

Chris Philp: The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill will help prevent the theft of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) such as quad bikes, by introducing a power for the Secretary of State to make regulations which provide for the requirement to fit immobilisers, forensically mark these vehicles and register the owner’s details on an appropriate property database.There are currently no plans to include all agricultural vehicles. However, the provisions could be extended and applied to other agricultural equipment in the future through secondary legislation, where evidence shows this is necessary.

Animal Experiments

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her Department's policy to ban animal testing where it causes animals severe suffering; and whether she is taking steps to promote New Approach Methodologies to replace animal testing.

Chris Philp: The use of animals in science supports the development of new medicines and the safety of our environment, for the benefit of humans and animals.The Home Office assures appropriate protection of the use of animals in science through licensing and compliance assurance under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This legal framework, implemented by the Home Office Regulator, requires that animals are only ever used in science where there are no alternatives, where the number of animals used is the minimum needed to achieve the scientific benefit, and where the potential harm to animals is limited to that needed to achieve the scientific benefit.The Government actively supports and funds the development and dissemination of the 3Rs. This is achieved through funding UK Research and Investment who fund the National Centre for the 3Rs and research through Innovate UK, the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council into the development of alternatives.

Police: Kingston upon Hull North

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve standards in policing in Kingston upon Hull North constituency.

Chris Philp: The Home Office engage closely with the whole of the policing sector to improve standards across England and Wales. That is why the Home Office recently announced a review into the process of police officer dismissals, ensuring that improvements are made across all forcesHis Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is responsible for inspecting, monitoring and reporting of the efficiency and effectiveness of forces and, last month, it published its most recent PEEL inspection findings for Humberside Police with the force receiving six ‘outstanding’ grades.

Firearms: 3D Printing

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licensing applications for 3D printed firearms have been received in England and Wales in each of the past ten years.

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of recent National Crime Agency operations on the seizure of 3D printed firearms.

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of the manufacture and supply of 3D printed weapons on the capabilities of organisations and individuals who pose a threat to national security.

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of current firearms licensing laws in preventing ammunition licensed for legitimate reasons from being acquired by people who manufacture, sell or acquire 3D printed weapons.

Chris Philp: The Home Office is committed to tackling the threat posed by 3D printed firearms and they are subject to the same legislative controls as any other firearms. We are working closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to tackle the emergence of unlicensed 3D firearms in the UK, including Project Interknow in which the NCA is leading the multi-agency response to this issue. The Home Office continues to work closely with law enforcement, including the NCA and other operational partners to manage the national security threat and protect public safety.The possession, purchase or acquisition of ammunition is strictly controlled under the Firearms Act 1968. A person wanting to possess ammunition, and any associated firearms that it will be used with, must hold a valid firearms certificate issued by the police. This includes for 3D printed firearms.

Coronavirus: Fines

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is the policy of her Department that fixed penalty notices should continue to be issued under coronavirus regulations in relation to incidents that occurred in the period when those regulations were in force.

Chris Philp: The issuing of FPNs, during the pandemic and now, is a matter for police forces who are operationally independent. Data on FPNs issued is not collected by the Home Office, but rather the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).The most recent tranche of figures relating to coronavirus breaches were published on 16 March 2022 and can be found on the NPCC website at Update on Coronavirus FPNs issued by forces in England and Wales, and the payment of FPNs (npcc.police.uk)

Police: Training

Rachel Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to ensure all police forces use Domestic Abuse Matters training programmes.

Miss Sarah Dines: The Domestic Abuse Matters training, which was developed by the College of Policing, and in collaboration with SafeLives, with input from Women’s Aid and Welsh Women’s Aid, aims to improve the police response to domestic abuse, including the investigation of controlling or coercive behaviour offences and to achieve national consistency in the service police forces provide to people experiencing domestic abuse.We expect police to treat all victims of domestic abuse with the sensitivity and compassion they deserve. Therefore, to strengthen the police response to domestic abuse and as part of our commitment in the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan to support the development and further rollout of the Domestic Abuse Matters training, we have committed up to £3.3 million up to 2025 to bolster and encourage the uptake of this training in forces. We will be prioritising funding for those forces who have yet to undertake the training yet. Forces in receipt of a funding contribution from the Home Office will be expected to update on progress through the quarterly monitoring requirements of grant agreements and an end of year assessment.As part of this commitment, we are also funding the development of a new module of the training that is targeted at officers investigating domestic abuse offences to enable further improvement in police responses to domestic abuse incidents.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Leasehold

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to undertake an equality impact assessment of the legislation on occupants of leasehold properties.

Lucy Frazer: In line with usual practice, the Government's intention would be to publish a regulatory impact assessment for primary legislation.

Planning Permission: Advertising

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of local newspapers in advertising planning applications.

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to increase online (a) advertisement of and (b) engagement in planning applications.

Lucy Frazer: Local planning authorities are required to publicise certain types of planning applications in local newspapers as set out in Article 15 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. Proposals in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill for the digitisation of the planning system will help enable the move to a modern and efficient planning system fit for the 21st century. Alongside traditional forms of engagement, digital engagement will remove barriers to engagement and create a more democratic planning system with planning decisions and local plans being informed by a larger and more diverse range of community views.The Government recognises the importance of print local newspapers to the communities they serve as an important engagement method.

Solar Power: Agriculture

Rachel Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the legal requirements are for including surface water flooding risks in solar farm applications.

Lucy Frazer: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that all sources of flood risk, now and in the future, need to be considered in planning applications, including the risk of surface water flooding. This is to ensure that new development is safe for its lifetime without increasing the risk of flooding elsewhere.Where appropriate, for example if the application is classed as major development, applications should be supported by a site-specific flood-risk assessment and sustainable drainage strategy. Lead Local Flood Authorities must be consulted on surface water drainage considerations in applications for such developments. The Environment Agency are a statutory consultee on planning applications in any area which has been notified to the local planning authority by the Agency as having critical drainage problems.

Levelling Up Parks Fund: Scotland

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to announce how the funding for the Levelling Up Parks Fund will be allocated in Scotland.

Dehenna Davison: Allocations of the Levelling Up Parks Fund within Scotland is a devolved matter. The overall allocation for Scotland will be announced in due course.

Women's Centres: Finance

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to Women In Prison's report entitled the value of Women's Centres, published on 7th October 2022, what assessment he has made of that report's findings on the impact of funding women's centres on local authorities; and if his Department would take steps to contribute funding to a cross-departmental fund for women's centres.

Felicity Buchan: The Ministry of Justice is investing in women's community services through grant competitions that aim to both support the sector in delivering vital services and to promote better local integration in how those services are delivered. The effectiveness of our funding for women's community services will be evaluated and inform future funding decisions, including whether to establish a cross departmental fund.

Private Rented Housing: Rents

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will make an assessment of the feasibility of introducing a policy of limiting in-tenancy rent increases in the private rented sector.

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will hold discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of introducing a policy of limiting in-tenancy rent increases in the private rented sector.

Felicity Buchan: This department engages regularly with stakeholders on a wide range of issues and we published our White Paper, 'A Fairer Private Rented Sector' in June. However, the Government does not support the introduction of rent controls.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the thank you payment under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme past the 12 month time-limit.

Felicity Buchan: I refer the Hon Member to the Secretary of State’s statement, which announced precisely that policy.

Letting Agents: Licensing

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing licensing frameworks for letting and managing agents in England.

Felicity Buchan: Letting or property agents in England for the private rented sector, who hold client money are required by law to sign up to one of six Government approved Client Money Protection schemes. These give tenants and landlords confidence that they can recover any money held by the agent on their behalf that the agent fails to repay - for example because of misappropriation or insolvency.It is also a legal requirement for letting and managing agents in England to belong to one of the two Government approved redress schemes.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, by what date they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day to day operations.

Dehenna Davison: The Government is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2050.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to his Department’s publication of electronic purchasing card spending for January 2022, for what purpose trivia software was purchased by his Department on 5 January 2022.

Dehenna Davison: Following the results of the 2020 People Survey which recorded staff feeling isolated during the Covid-19 pandemic, officials determined that software like Trivia could help bring together staff who were working from home in challenging circumstances. The department will not be continuing with the subscription in future, now the pandemic is over.

Planning: Reform

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November to Question 73809 on Planning: Reform, whether his Department has agreed any external consultancy contracts relating to the Planning Reform programme other than those with (a) The Dextrous Web, procurement references CPD4121195 and CPD4122140, (b) Made Tech Ltd., procurement references CPD4122071 and CPD4122072, and (c) Version 1 Solutions Ltd., procurement reference CPD4124083.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November to Question 73809 on Planning: Reform, how much money his Department has spent as of 22 November on its contracts with The Dextrous Web, procurement references (a) CPD4121195 and (b) CPD4122140, Made Tech Ltd., procurement references (c) CPD4122071 and (d) CPD4122072, and Version 1 Solutions Ltd., procurement reference (e) CPD4124083.

Dehenna Davison: The Department has not agreed any other external consultancy contracts relating to Planning Reform. All contract award notices over £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder.Details of all departmental spend greater than £250 are published on gov.uk.

Planning: Reform

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November to Question 73809 on Planning: Reform, how much of the £477 million budget set out in his Department's portfolio of major projects as the total baseline whole life costs of the Planning Reform programme has been spent as of 25 November 2022.

Dehenna Davison: I refer the Rt Hon member to the answer given here and to this department’s monthly spending report.

Local Government: Workplace Pensions

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on the length of time a person has to be assessed as being incapacitated by long covid before complying with the provisions on early payment of retirement pensions on the grounds of ill-health of section 35 of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Lee Rowley: The current regulations and guidance on ill-health retirement benefits in the Local Government Pension Scheme do not specify medical conditions or any period of ill-health before a member is eligible. The employer must appoint an Independent Registered Medical Practitioner to assess how long the member is unlikely to be capable of undertaking gainful employment, in light of their particular medical condition. It is the responsibility of the employer to decide if the member qualifies for an ill-health pension in the light of the assessment.

Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to potentially (a) increase turnout and (b) reduce costs to the public purse by holding local government, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections on the same day every four years.

Lee Rowley: Government has no plans to impose a change on the pattern of local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections, but agrees that holding concurrent elections can reduce costs and increase turnout.

Kirklees Council: Finance

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has held discussions with the leader of Kirklees Council on funding for (a) adult and (b) children’s services in Kirklees in the last 12 months.

Lee Rowley: Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on www.gov.uk.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the electorate for whom a passport is the only valid form of identification for the purposes of the Elections Act 2022.

Lee Rowley: I refer the Hon member to the Cabinet Office survey, which can be found can be found here.

Housing Associations: Construction and Rents

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the rate of increase of baseline rents and (b) changes to costs in the construction sector on housing associations.

Dehenna Davison: I refer my Hon Friend to the answer to Question UIN 80923 on 15 November 2022.We will publish a final Impact Assessment in due course.

Independent Faith Engagement Review

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the report from the Independent Faith Engagement Review.

Dehenna Davison: I refer my Rt Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 96636 on 30 November 2022.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Energy

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which energy provider supplies energy to their Department; how much carbon dioxide was emitted by their Department in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria their Department uses to select an energy supplier include how environmentally friendly that supplier is; and what recent steps their Department has taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its energy use.

Mr Alister Jack: The Scotland Office is committed to reducing emissions and energy consumption wherever possible, as part of the UK’s transition to net zero. The government monitors and reports on its greenhouse gas emissions - information on this is published in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report.Crown Commercial Service (CCS) operates a centralised energy procurement strategy for central government and is responsible for selecting the gas and power supply companies on behalf of all departments. CCS is currently conducting its latest tender round on behalf of departments and the supplier environmental credentials will be part of the selection criteria. Information on steps taken to reduce emissions can be found in the Scotland Office Annual Report.

Scotland Office: Carbon Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, by what date they expect their Department to be carbon neutral in its day to day operations.

Mr Alister Jack: The Government is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2050. Central Government reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in 2019-20 compared to a 2009-10 baseline, exceeding its target of 43%. The Greening Government Commitments set out the actions that UK government departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment, including targets for departmental reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with current targets for the period 2021-25. The Scotland Office is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible.

Cabinet Office

Veterans: Cost of Living

Holly Mumby-Croft: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what financial support the Government has made available to veterans to help with the cost of living.

Johnny Mercer: The Government is committed to supporting all households with the current cost of living, through the Help for Households initiative. This includes serving personnel and veterans. Veterans are able to access all the support that the rest of the UK is eligible for, including the Energy Price Guarantee, Cost of Living Payment and the Disability Cost of Living Payment. Through its Veterans’ Welfare Service, Veterans UK provides one-to-one welfare support and advice to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants. We are also working with the charitable sector to continue to signpost dedicated support available to veterans.

Dominic Raab

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his Answer of 29 November 2022 to Question 92230 on Dominic Raab, whether Adam Tolley KC has the power to investigate any informal complaints or expressions of concern on the conduct Deputy Prime Minister except those specified in the Terms of Reference of the investigation.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates the five further complaints against the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 14 December 2022 were received.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the Rt Hon lady to the Answers of 19 December 2022 to Questions 110722 and 110723. The investigation is being carried out in line with the Terms of Reference. Decisions on the conduct of that investigation will be for the investigator.The government confirmed on 14 December that additional formal complaints had been passed to the investigator. These had been received by the Cabinet Office late in the previous week and were addressed promptly.

Protective Clothing: Procurement

Owen Thompson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what means of communication was used to inform of the existence of an expedited route for supplying personal protective equipment during the covid-19 outbreak; which organisations and individuals were made aware of that route; and where any promotion of that route was published.

Alex Burghart: The High Priority appraisals mailbox was available across government and with Parliamentarians. Email correspondence with ministerial private offices and senior officials in the PPE sourcing programme provided notification that the mailbox had been set up and this was widely known. The mailbox allowed MPs, ministers and senior officials to directly pass on offers of support which they had received from suppliers and individuals to a dedicated location for triage. The high priority team used the same criteria to assess offers as those used to assess any other offers of PPE. Referral to the mailbox was not a guarantee of a contract.

Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his Department’s publication of government procurement card spending over £500 for March 2022, for which individuals was accommodation purchased at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on (a) 7 March and (b) 15 March 2022; and what was the purpose of those stays at that hotel.

Jeremy Quin: These transactions are for accommodation for a total of six members of staff, including the COP Envoy and the COP President, for three nights during a ministerial visit to Vietnam from 15-18 February in order to pursue a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam.

MyCSP: Standards

Justin Madders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2022 to Question 78748 on MyCSP: Complaints, whether his Department is taking steps to improve the service provided by MyCSP.

Alex Burghart: Cabinet Office’s performance statistics indicate an improving trend of the services provided by MyCSP. Cabinet Office continues to drive MyCSP to improve their current level of service and continues to work alongside MyCSP to deliver a number of short and medium term initiatives designed to improve the member experience.

List of Ministerial Responsibilities

Tim Farron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be next updated.

Jeremy Quin: The List of Ministerial Responsibilities has been published on 19 December and placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It can also be found on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-ministers-and-responsibilities.

Infected Blood Compensation Framework Study

Damien Moore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government will respond to Sir Robert Francis QC’s recommendations in the Interim Report on the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December.

Infected Blood Compensation Framework Study

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date her Department last received an update from the Infected Blood Inquiry team in relation to the Government response to the report by Sir Robert Francis.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government plans to issue a formal response to the report by Sir Robert Francis on compensation for those affected by contaminated blood.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December.

Cabinet Office: Peters and Peters

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of the contract with Peters and Peters in relation to the Privileges Committee.

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the projected cost to the public purse of the proposed renewal of the contract with Peters and Peters in relation to the Privileges Committee.

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of (a) legal disbursements paid to Peters and Peters in relation to the Privileges Committee and (b) other legal expenses incurred as a result of that investigation.

Jeremy Quin: As the Committee’s inquiry remains ongoing, the contract for the provision of legal support to the former Prime Minister is being extended. Updates to the contract can be found at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26bfbb02-7e5b-4500-9746-6513393bfd27. The Government has previously committed to setting out the final costs of the total legal support in relation to the Privileges Committee in due course after the conclusion of this matter.

Cabinet Office: Energy

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which energy provider supplies energy to their Department; how much carbon dioxide was emitted by their Department in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria their Department uses to select an energy supplier include how environmentally friendly that supplier is; and what recent steps their Department has taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its energy use.

Alex Burghart: The Cabinet Office procures its energy supplies through the Government Property Agency’s Commercial Department, which works with Crown Commercial Service (CCS). The current suppliers are Total Energies Gas & Power Ltd for gas and EdF for electricity. The Cabinet Office occupies a historical estate but actively contributes fully to the overall Net Zero by 2050 objective of the Government. Greenhouse gas emissions on the public estate reduced by 50% in 2019-20, compared to a 2009-10 baseline, exceeding its target of 43%. Carbon dioxide emissions for the latest reporting period is due to be published soon and previous years are available in the public domain at Greening Government Commitments on GOV.UK.

Government Departments: Land

Munira Wilson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Office of Government Property's policy is on the disposal of surplus land following the withdrawal of that office's previous guidance on that matter on 1 June 2021.

Alex Burghart: The new Government Property Strategy, which was published in the Summer, sets out the policy to achieve a smaller, better, greener government estate, disposing of surplus, underutilised and poor quality property to enable efficiency savings and bring in capital receipts. When disposing of surplus sites, organisations should assess alternative uses and Government policy priorities to identify the most appropriate disposal mechanism. Work has been underway to revise guidance for the disposal of government property to reflect the aims of the new Strategy. It is intended to reissue this guidance in the New Year.

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to her Department’s publication of electronic purchasing card spending over £500, for what purpose was (a) £1,686.40 paid to the NDIA on 25 April 2022 and (b) £954.48 paid to Peli Products UK Ltd on 31 March 2022.

Nigel Huddleston: The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) spend was to purchase additional conference and exhibition passes purchased for the UK delegation attending the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) 2022 exhibition in Tampa, USA. The exhibition space came with 16 complimentary passes, but a further 14 were required to meet the needs of the delegation attending. The spend on Peli Products UK Ltd relates to purchases of a range of Peli cases to protect items of equipment required to support overseas trade negotiations.

Department for International Trade: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to her Department’s publication of electronic purchasing card spending over £500 for July 2022, where was the hotel accommodation on which £63,300 was spent on 27 July 2022; for which individuals was that accommodation purchased; and what was the purpose of their stay at that hotel.

Nigel Huddleston: This hotel booking was for Department for International Trade staff involved with delivering the UK House Business Programme at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games over a 16-night period. 422 rooms were booked at a cost of £150 per night inc breakfast. UK House was a key component of the Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme which has to date recorded over £13m of export business for UK companies.

Department for International Trade: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to her Department’s publication of electronic purchasing card spending over £500 for October 2022, who attended the meal purchased for £1,120.00 at One Lombard Street on 20 October 2021; and whether that included any expenditure on alcoholic beverages.

Nigel Huddleston: This spend was by the Director General Trading Systems who hosted a dinner for her counterparts attending the G7 Trade Working group ahead of the G7 Trade Ministers meeting on 21st October 2022. A total of 17 people attended the dinner, and no alcoholic beverages were purchased or consumed.

Garlic: China

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate her Department has made of the percentage change in the price of imported garlic from China as a result of the upcoming changes to the Tariff Rate Quota; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: Earlier this year, the Government concluded negotiations with China under Article 28 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. In these negotiations the UK is using historic trade data to ensure that the tariff rate quota volumes in our World Trade Organization Goods Schedule provide continuity for traders. The upcoming change has been made on this basis and therefore is not expected to affect the price of imported garlic from China.

Trade Agreements

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of conducting environmental impact assessments on future trade agreements that the Government seeks to negotiate; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government has committed to producing scoping assessments which are published at the point of launching a negotiation. These include a preliminary assessment of the potential implications for the environment. It has also committed to publishing an impact assessment at the point of signature, which include a more detailed assessment of the likely environmental impacts. The Government will continue to assess environmental impacts in these documents. It also runs public consultations ahead of commencing trade negotiations on any new trade agreement.

Department for International Trade: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to her Department’s published spending by electronic purchasing card solution over £500 for July 2022, what travel services were purchased from Brightsun.co.uk for £8,110.00 on 20 July 2022; for which individuals were those services purchased; and what was the purpose of that travel.

Nigel Huddleston: This spend was in relation to travel by the Deputy Director in the Sponsorship and World Events team, who was requested to accompany Minister Adams in support of the Osaka 2025 Expo. This was a last-minute business class booking to Tokyo and had extremely limited availability. The department does not ordinarily book travel in this way.

Department for International Trade: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to her Department’s publication of electronic purchasing card spending over £500 for October 2021, what the purpose was of the payment of £1,265.00 made to www.totalevent.co.uk on 2 October 2021.

Nigel Huddleston: The spend relates to costs for participating in the Three Counties Defence and Security Expo in October 2021. The costs include the provision of power, lighting, audio/visual facilities, a small meeting room and the stand construction.

Department for International Trade: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to her Department’s published spending by electronic purchasing card solution over £500 for May 2022, who attended the meal purchased for £656.00 at Quilon on 27 May 2022; and whether the transaction included expenditure on alcoholic beverages.

Nigel Huddleston: This was hospitality spend on lunch on 27 May 2022 for a visiting Indian Government Delegation. The delegation were visiting London as part of the UK-India Trade Negotiation discussions and a Department for International Trade-hosted Round Table event. 7 Indian Government officials were hosted by 3 UK Government officials. There was no alcohol purchased during the lunch.

Department for International Trade: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what their Department spent in 2021 on purchasing goods and services with a value of less than £500 on a government procurement card.

Nigel Huddleston: The total spend by the Department for International Trade on purchasing goods and services with a value of less than £500 on a government procurement card was £148,099.63 in 2021.

UK Trade with EU

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to increase trade with European countries.

Nigel Huddleston: Europe remains a vital export destination for British businesses, exporting £344.6 billion in the year to June 2022, up 16% in current prices on the previous year. My department has around 300 trade experts across Europe, charged with resolving market access barriers, encouraging investment and promoting UK exports. Our refreshed Export Strategy launched last November to help businesses at every stage of exporting and will continue to help drive exports to Europe. It is a front door for businesses who require support adapting to changes following the UK’s departure from the EU.

Department for International Trade: Theft

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many of her Department's (a) laptops, (b) mobile phones, (c) memory sticks and (d) external hard drives have been lost or stolen in each of the last five years.

Nigel Huddleston: All IT equipment issued by the department is encrypted. Any mobile device reported as lost is immediately deactivated and the contents remotely deleted. The user account on any laptop reported as lost is also immediately locked. Further investigation of lost devices is carried out where appropriate, including reporting the matter to the police. We are not aware of any data loss or compromise because of lost devices.

UK Tradeshow Programme

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many unsuccessful applications have been made to the UK Tradeshow Programme to date in 2022.

Andrew Bowie: The Department for International Trade (DIT) has had 184 unsuccessful applications for UK Tradeshow Programme support.The applications were unsuccessful due to the following reasons:135 – The applicant’s business failed to meet the programme’s base criteria for support;42 – The applicant failed to provide accurate business detail, preventing DIT from conducting governance and counter-fraud due diligence;7 – Viewed by the Application Assessment Panel as unsuitable, on a VfM basis, for support at their show of choice.

Russia: Defence Equipment

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate she has made of when the inquiry into whether UK components have been used in Russian weapons systems in Ukraine will conclude; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: I would like to clarify that there is no formal inquiry underway, contrary to press reports. The Government has reviewed the reports about UK components being recovered from Russian military equipment. It is likely that some Russian military equipment contains sub-components, some of which are dual-use and are not controlled, obtained from a range of countries, including the UK. The UK, in coordination with allies, has introduced several packages of hard-hitting sanctions that prohibit the supply of a wide range of goods and services, including components that could be utilised in Russian military equipment. This information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance/russia-sanctions-guidance.

Department for International Trade: Official Gifts

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the total value of diplomatic gifts is over the last three years, by recipient country.

Nigel Huddleston: The total value of gifts (given) over the last three years, by recipient country, is not held centrally by the Department for International Trade (DIT). The department fulfils the requirement to publish transparency data in line with the Government’s transparency agenda and this can be found at DIT ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings on GOV.UK.

Department for International Trade: Official Gifts

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many diplomatic gifts have been given in each of the last three years, by recipient country.

Nigel Huddleston: The number of diplomatic gifts that have been given in each of the last three years, by recipient countries is not held centrally by the Department for International Trade (DIT). The department fulfils the requirement to publish transparency data in line with the Government’s transparency agenda and this can be found at DIT ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings on GOV.UK.

Supply Chains: Unfair Practices

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure brands supplying the UK market engage in fair purchasing practices in order that their suppliers can provide (a) a fair wage and (b) good working conditions.

Nigel Huddleston: It is vital that increased trade is not based on the exploitation and abuse of workers.The Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses with a turnover of £36m or more to publish modern slavery statements annually to report on the steps they are taking to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in their operations and supply chains. Additionally, the Procurement Bill includes provisions to disregard bids from suppliers who use modern slavery in their operations or supply chains.The UK complies with its international obligations, including International Labour Organization conventions, and we encourage other countries to do the same.

Department for International Trade: Energy

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which energy provider supplies energy to their Department; how much carbon dioxide was emitted by their Department in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria their Department uses to select an energy supplier include how environmentally friendly that supplier is; and what recent steps their Department has taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its energy use.

Nigel Huddleston: The Department's energy usage and CO2 emissions are published in our Annual Report and Accounts. Please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-international-trade-annual-report-and-accounts (page 84) for the latest published figures. Crown Commercial Service (CCS) operates a centralised energy procurement strategy for central government and is responsible for selecting the gas and power supply companies on behalf of all departments. CCS is currently conducting its latest tender round on behalf of departments and the supplier environmental credentials will be part of the selection criteria. The Government Property Agency (GPA) manage and maintain the Department's offices and are responsible for improving the energy efficiency of buildings under their control.

Department for International Trade: Indo-Pacific Region

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether there has been a change in her Department's (a) departmental expenditure limit and (b) annually managed expenditure spending in the Indo-Pacific region since 16 March 2021.

Nigel Huddleston: A) Yes, there has been an increase to the departmental expenditure limit spending in the Indo-Pacific region since 16 March 2021. B) The Department for International Trade has not incurred any annually managed expenditure spending in the Indo-Pacific region since 16 March 2021. The publication of the Integrated Review in March 2021 affirmed the UK’s increased focus and long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific.

Department for International Trade: Accountancy

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte and Touche, (c) Ernst and Young and (d) KPMG made secondments to their Department, including predecessor Departments, since 2010.

Nigel Huddleston: The Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance (UKEF) have had the following secondments since 2016, when DIT was formed: DIT:KPMG – less than 5 secondees, February 2021 to January 2022 UKEF:Deloitte – less than 5 secondees, February 2022 to March 2022Deloitte – less than 5 secondees, December 2022 to March 2023 There have not been secondments from the other firms.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Social Media: Regulation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to increase regulation of social media companies in order to manage security threats to users.

Paul Scully: The Online Safety Bill will impose duties on companies that enable the sharing of user-generated content, including social media companies, to tackle illegal content on their services. Social media companies will need to understand the risk of illegal content appearing on their services, and take steps to prevent users from encountering such content. This will include illegal content that poses a security threat to users, for example terrorist content. The Bill is currently progressing through Parliament.

Holiday Accommodation: Licensing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will commission a pilot short term holiday let licensing scheme.

Stuart Andrew: The Government supports the sharing economy and the benefits it can bring. However, it is also aware of concerns about the uneven regulatory requirements in the guest accommodation sector, and possible negative impacts on some local communities compared to other types of accommodation.Between June and September of this year, DCMS held a Call for Evidence on the benefits and challenges presented by the rise of short-term and holiday letting in England over the last 10 to 15 years. We received almost 4,000 responses, with initial findings indicating that there is a case for light-touch regulation in the sector.The Government is therefore introducing a registration scheme for short-term lets through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Further details on how the scheme will operate will be explored through a public consultation which we anticipate will be published before the summer recess in 2023, and we will subsequently set out how we will be introducing the registration scheme.

Listed Buildings

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications to de-list a listed building were (a) made and (b) successful in each year since 2010.

Stuart Andrew: (a) The total number of applications received each year for the de-listing of a Listed Building is not recorded.(b) The number of Listed Buildings de-listed each year since 2010 is detailed below:YearNumber of Listed Buildings de-listed20101382011116201213120132352014207201525020163062017203201825820191852020832021462022*114** Up to 15th December 2022.

Telecommunications: Laboratories

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the press release published 13 December 2022 on 5G and 6G technology, when the government expects the new West Midlands Telecom lab to be completed and operational.

Julia Lopez: The Government is aiming to establish the initial operating capability of the new UK Telecoms Lab in Spring/Summer 2023.

Music: Exports

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to create a music export office to (a) support creators and businesses looking to build their profile abroad, (b) provide advice on export logistics and strategy to artists and (c) help artists to expand into new markets.

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made on the impacts of barriers that UK musicians and crew face touring the EU following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress the Government has made on bilateral negotiations with individual EU Member States to allow 90 in 180 days work permit free touring for UK artists and crew.

Julia Lopez: The Government recognises that there are new requirements for creative workers to work and tour in the EU. The Government has sought to clarify these new arrangements, which are in many cases more workable than has at times been reported.EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. That is why we have engaged with EU Member States about the importance of touring. From these discussions, almost all Member States have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers. This includes most of the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.We have also confirmed that splitter vans are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requirements on haulage, and that portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets. In July, the Government introduced ‘dual registration’ to make it easier for specialist hauliers to move musicians’ equipment between Great Britain and the EU.The Government supports creative businesses through a range of export support programmes, including the Music Export Growth Scheme, the International Showcase Fund, and the new Creative Faculty of the Export Academy. The Government has also established a new Export Support Service from which UK artists can get answers to practical questions about working in Europe.In light of this support, the government does not intend to establish a new creative industries export office during this Spending Review period. The Government will set out its ambition for the creative sector to 2030, including boosting growth and exports, in the upcoming Creative Industries Sector Vision, which will be published in early 2023.

Football Governance Fan-led Review

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the government will publish the Fan-led Review of Football Governance White Paper.

Stuart Andrew: The Government published its response to the recommendations made by the independent Fan Led Review of Football Governance in April.We absolutely recognise the need for football to be reformed to ensure the game’s sustainability in the long term. We remain committed to publishing a White Paper setting out our proposals for the reform of football governance and will do so imminently.

Listed Buildings: Energy

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help the owners of listed buildings improve home energy efficiency.

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help owners of listed homes improve energy efficiency.

Stuart Andrew: Making historic buildings more energy efficient is an important part of meeting Government ambitions with regard to Net Zero and energy efficiency. There are approximately 350,000 listed domestic properties, which make up 2% of our housing stock.In the Government’s British Energy Security Strategy, published earlier this year, we committed to reviewing the practical planning barriers which households can face when installing energy efficiency measures, including in conservation areas and listed buildings. My Department has been working on the review jointly with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and will make an announcement on the outcomes in due course.Historic England has recently updated its guidance for homeowners of historic buildings on how to adapt older buildings sympathetically to be more energy efficient. Historic England are making changes to their website that will make it easier for people to find detailed advice on how best to retro-fit their older homes.

English Churches and Cathedrals Sustainability Review

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to The Taylor Review: Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals published on 20 December 2017, when she plans to respond the recommendations of that review; and if she will make a statement.

Stuart Andrew: Following the publication of the Taylor Review, my Department responded to the Review’s recommendations by working with Historic England to explore a new model of funding and advice through two pilot projects in Manchester and Suffolk. The pilots tested the recommendations of the Review and an evaluation of their impact was published here. My officials continue to work closely with key parties to understand and respond to issues affecting our ecclesiatical heritage.

Gambling

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish the gambling white paper.

Paul Scully: The Gambling Act Review is wide-ranging and aims to ensure regulation is fit for the digital age. We will publish a White Paper setting out our conclusions and next steps in the coming weeks.

Online Safety Bill

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Online Safety Bill on the availability of online content that is harmful to children.

Paul Scully: The Online Safety Bill will deliver world-leading protections for children from harmful content and activity online. All companies that are in scope will need to take robust steps to protect children from illegal content and activity, such as content assisting suicide, on their services.In addition, companies that have services which are likely to be accessed by children will be required to protect children from being exposed to harmful content or activity including bullying and pornography. This includes ensuring that systems for targeting content to children, such as the use of algorithms, and other features and functionalities on the service such as live streaming and private messaging, protect children from harmful material. For services that pose a very high risk to the safety of children, such as pornography, we would expect companies to use a high confidence age assurance technology, such as age verification, designed to prevent children from accessing the service.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Brexit

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's departure from the EU on their ability to deliver successful policy outcomes.

Paul Scully: When the UK left the EU on 31st January 2020, we regained the ability to set our own rules and regulations. This was a key reason why the British people voted to leave the EU. The UK’s departure from the EU will enable the UK Government to remove and reform years of burdensome EU regulation in favour of a more agile, home-grown regulatory approach that benefits the UK - for example, through powers in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. This will allow us to seize the benefits of Brexit to create the best regulated economy in the world, stimulating economic growth, innovation and job creation.

Gambling

Alex Davies-Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Gambling Commission on the role of open banking technology in helping to tackle problem gambling.

Paul Scully: The Government and Gambling Commission are exploring how technology and data can be harnessed in a number of areas to better prevent harmful gambling online. The Government’s White Paper on the Gambling Act Review will be published in the coming weeks.

Listed Events Regime: Digital Rights Review

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Department's publication, Listed Events: Digital Rights Review, published on 15 November 2022, whether she plans to implement the findings of that consultation through legislative proposals in a Media Bill.

Julia Lopez: The Government believes that certain sporting events of national interest should be shown on free-to-air television so that they can be enjoyed by as wide an audience as possible. We want to ensure that as viewing habits change and technology evolves the regulatory framework remains fit for purpose.The Government is speaking to stakeholders to look at whether in the face of technological change, the objectives of the existing regime are still being met and whether digital rights should be included in the regime. The review will need to balance the ability for audiences to watch national sporting events at no additional cost with the ability for sporting organisations to generate revenues from sports rights to re-invest in their sports at all levels.We are still considering this issue, and it is important we consult relevant stakeholders as we look to deliver for audiences. If the Government decides to make changes that require legislation, we will consider the best legislative vehicle to deliver it in the usual way.

Broadband: Social Security Benefits

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to promote social tariffs offline.

Julia Lopez: In November, the DCMS - as part of Help for Households - launched a UK-wide campaign to boost awareness of social tariffs among eligible households.The campaign uses multiple channels to reach individuals; and partners with a range of stakeholders - including other Government departments (such as DWP), job centres, libraries, local authorities, charities, consumer groups and internet service providers - to maximise the reach of our messaging. Alongside dedicated digital resources, posters and leaflets have been created, which can be distributed by partners directly to those who may be eligible. We are also using print media, such as ‘Quids In!’, a magazine targeted at low-income households.On 29 November, I convened a roundtable with the UK’s major broadband and mobile providers, as-well-as consumer groups to examine the barriers to take up of social tariffs and the role Government, the telecoms sector, charities and consumer groups can play to ensure eligible households are aware of the support available. We will continue to explore further options for collaboration.

5G

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will be published by 31 January 2022.

Julia Lopez: Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will set out a strategic framework for the development, deployment and adoption of 5G and future networks. It will articulate a clear vision for how advanced wireless infrastructure can become an integral part of the fabric of the UK's economy and society by 2030.We intend to publish the strategy in early 2023.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Energy

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which energy provider supplies energy to their Department; how much carbon dioxide was emitted by their Department in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria their Department uses to select an energy supplier include how environmentally friendly that supplier is; and what recent steps their Department has taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its energy use.

Julia Lopez: DCMS occupies a number of different offices across the United Kingdom, all of which are shared with other departments and/or private sector occupiers. All of these properties are managed by local building management teams (not employed by DCMS) with each location procuring their own energy suppliers and DCMS being re-charged for proportional usage. DCMS does not therefore procure its own energy suppliers.Our DCMS London headquarters are located at 100 Parliament Street, Whitehall. This building is shared with other government departments and is managed by the Government Property Agency (GPA) who source energy from EDF Energy and from the Whitehall District Heating System.DCMS Manchester headquarters are located at Bloc 17, Marble St. This building is shared with other companies/departments and is managed by private landlords Bruntwood. Bruntwood procure their energy from Unify Energy Ltd.Other DCMS sites that our staff occupy are classed as satellite hubs, where only a small amount of desks are available to us - the energy providers for these buildings are chosen and managed by the landlords respectively.In our most recent submission for Greening Government Commitment sustainability reporting (2021/22), DCMS logged 198.28 tonnes of CO2e.In terms of improving and meeting reduction targets, a building wide solution of energy efficient LED lighting installation at our London HQ is underway and is due for completion in 2023 - this will involve a complete switchover of all current lighting in the building, including DCMS areas.We continue to promote good practices, in all of our offices, to reduce emissions - including heavily restricting the use of domestic flights, reducing waste, paper usage and single use plastics.The DCMS Property Strategy will see the department move into GPA managed Government hub accommodation as it becomes available, meaning that energy procurement will be undertaken by the GPA on behalf of its customers and in line with their Net Zero Strategy.

Telecommunications: Local Government

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will provide support to local authorities to help ensure those authorities have in-house telecoms expertise to respond to requests from telecoms operators.

Julia Lopez: The Government recognises the importance of having a dedicated lead on digital infrastructure in local and regional authorities. This is why this approach is strongly recommended in the advice provided to local authorities on the Government’s Digital Connectivity Portal.The Digital Connectivity Portal provides practical information for local authorities, for instance on debunking myths around 5G, around making assets available for hosting equipment and on the application of legislation such as the Electronic Communications Code and planning regulations.DCMS officials frequently facilitate meetings and workshops between the telecoms industry and local authority staff, including local authority digital connectivity leads. These meetings are designed to increase understanding of the importance of digital connectivity to local communities, as well as the practicalities around its deployment.This engagement is a part of the work carried out by DCMS’ Barrier Busting Task Force (BBTF) which was established in 2017. Its key objective is to identify and address the barriers preventing the fast, efficient and cost-effective deployment of gigabit-capable broadband and improved mobile coverage, including next generation 5G technology.The Department has also provided £4m of funding to establish the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) programme, to enable local authorities and the mobile industry to make more effective use of public sector assets and land.

Broadband

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the proportion of households which have access to a gigabit connection but do not utilise it.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of households which utilise a full fibre connection.

Julia Lopez: According to Ofcom’s 2022 Connected Nations Report, take-up of full-fibre broadband where available is currently 25%, with take-up of gigabit-capable networks at 38%.Ofcom also notes that take-up may appear lower than expected because networks are deploying at pace and take-up lags behind coverage.

5G

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what rights private landowners have to oppose the installation of 5G masts on their property.

Julia Lopez: The Government is committed to providing good quality digital infrastructure and mobile coverage, including 5G, across the UK. This will ensure that people are able to stay connected and businesses are able to grow. Digital connectivity is important now more than ever. The Government’s ambition for the majority of the UK population to have access to 5G by 2027 was met 5 years early with basic “non-standalone” 5G. Non-standalone 5G is available outside up to 77% of UK premises.At all times, however, government policy in this area works to keep a proportionate balance between public benefits of digital rollout, and the rights of individual landowners.Rights to install and keep electronic communications apparatus on public and private land are regulated by the Electronic Communications Code (“the Code”). Rights relating to apparatus on private land are normally agreed through negotiation between a landowner and communications operator.Where a consensual agreement cannot be reached, the operator can ask a court to consider whether rights should be imposed. It is important to note, however, that the imposition of those rights is not automatic.In these cases, the court will take into account whether the proposed installation is in the public interest and whether the landowner can be adequately compensated in deciding whether or not the requested rights should be imposed.In addition to the need to comply with the requirements of the Code, the installation of apparatus must also comply with any planning requirements. Most telecommunications infrastructure, such as new masts and base stations, now benefit from nationally set permitted development rights. Permitted development rights enable certain types of development to be undertaken without the need for a full planning application, where the need to apply for permission would be out of proportion with the impacts of development. However, new ground-based masts still require the prior approval of local planning authority on certain matters, such as siting a design, before deployment can take place.Local planning authorities are the decision makers for local planning decisions and must ensure that they are satisfied with things such as siting and appearance of the proposed development, before the permitted development rights are applied.

House of Commons Commission

Norman Shaw Buildings

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects Norman Shaw North to be reopened; and when Members of Parliament will be able to occupy their offices in that building.

Sir Charles Walker: Refurbishment works in Norman Shaw North are due to be completed by Summer 2026, occupation is currently anticipated for Autumn 2026 in collaboration with the Accommodation Whips.

Richmond House

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects Richmond House no longer to be used for offices for Members of Parliament.

Sir Charles Walker: Given the continued pressure on space and desire for more space for Members, it is possible that offices for Members are still provided in Richmond House even after re-opening of Norman Shaw North, particularly if other buildings on the parliamentary estate follow similar refurbishments.

Parliamentary Estate: Repairs and Maintenance

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the decision was made by the Commission to decant Members and other personnel from Norman Shaw North to Richmond House; and what estimate was made by the Commission of how long those personnel would have to remain in Richmond House before they could move back to Norman Shaw North.

Sir Charles Walker: At its meeting on 20 July 2020 the Commission agreed MPs and their staff could be offered office space in the former Department of Health building, Richmond House, initially for a minimum period of three years – to enable urgent refurbishment work to take place on the northern end of the Parliamentary Estate. At that meeting the Commission also agreed to look at a revised plan to use Richmond House as accommodation and to create better welfare facilities for staff.

Women and Equalities

Gender Recognition

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend Section 7 of the Equality Act 2010 in order to (a) replace the references to the term transsexual with a different term and (b) remove the requirement that a person covered by that Section shall be proposing to undergo, be undergoing or have undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of reassigning that person's sex by changing physiological or other attributes of sex.

Stuart Andrew: The Government is clear that we want people who are transgender to be able to live their lives as they wish. On a) we recognise that the term ‘transsexual’ used in the Equality Act 2010 is seen by many to be outdated. We understand those concerns and do not use the term in our policy or communications work. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) explain their approach by stating: “We recognise that some people consider this term outdated, so in this guidance we use the term ‘trans’ to refer to a person who has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment”[1].In terms of the scope of that protected characteristic, as the EHRC sets out[2], the Equality Act definition is broad, does not require medical treatment and will include those who may “prefer to be described as a transperson, or transmale or transfemale or transgender”.[1] For example in their April 2022 guidance for providers of single sex spaces: www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/separate-and-single-sex-service-providers-guide-equality-act-sex-and-gender#language[2] www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/gender-reassignment-discrimination

Regional Accents: Discrimination

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the findings of the Speaking Up report published by the Sutton Trust in November 2022; and if she will take steps to (a) assess the prevalence of and (b) help prevent workplace discrimination relating to accent.

Stuart Andrew: Advancing fairness and equality of opportunity in the workplace is a key priority for this Government. Everyone should be treated fairly as an employee or job applicant so that they can thrive and reach their full potential. A diverse workforce is good for business and we recognise that employers stand the best chance of achieving this when they focus their efforts on effective actions which have a proven track record of improving diversity and inclusion.The Government’s approach is to progress specific policies and practical actions that will deliver real change. Our agenda set out in the White Paper ‘Levelling Up the United Kingdom’ is key to this and we are promoting social mobility and tackling inequality through a range of initiatives – for example in education, through reforms to the welfare system, by giving greater developmental devolution in England and rebalancing the economy through schemes such as the Towns Fund.We welcome the Sutton Trust’s Speaking Up report and note it recognises that accent is a key facet of several protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 – for example, sex, race, age and sexual orientation ­­– this may offer some protection, depending on the particular circumstances of the case.We have taken on board the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) recommendations, and as part of the UK Government’s response ‘Inclusive Britain’, Action 69 is the commitment to establish an Inclusion at Work Panel to examine the evidence to understand what actually works to improve inclusion in the workplace and to share that information with employers so they can take action.Made up of a panel of academics and practitioners in business it will develop and disseminate effective resources to help employers drive fairness across organisations. This will go beyond just race and ethnicity to identify actions to promote fairness for all in the workplace. It will include a programme of research and workplace trials to provide a robust evidence base and root out poor quality training.In addition, we have published guidance that sets out the steps that employees can take if they are experiencing bullying or harassment at work, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/workplace-bullying-and-harassment.Acas provides free and impartial advice for employers and employees, and has also published useful guidance on how to deal with bullying in the workplace that we encourage individuals and employers to consider when dealing with such matters. This is available at: https://www.acas.org.uk/if-youre-treated-unfairly-at-work/being-bullied.

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund and EnAble Fund for Elected Office

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the annual costs were of the (a) Access To Elected Office Fund and (b) EnAble Fund.

Stuart Andrew: Breakdowns of the costs are detailed in the reports into the funds, which can be found on the following links:(a) Access to Elected Office Fund (pages 12-13): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/722039/Access_to_elected_office_evaluation_report.pdf(b) EnAble Fund (sections 4 and 6): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/barriers-to-elected-office-for-disabled-people/barriers-to-political-representation-disability-and-the-enable-fund#funding-awarded